By Philippe Perez
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It has been nearly six years since Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Upper Murray district manager Dave Jenson joined a massive effort to tackle fires raging throughout Victoria’s north-east.
For him, the memories of the savage 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and the huge clean-up afterwards remain.
“The team had to spend two to three years in that burnt environment repairing things, bringing things back [and] helping [the] community recover,” he said.
“Repairing things, bringing things back, recovery, helping [the] community recover, so it’s been years, not just a single event for us.”
It is only now that he and other firefighters and staff are being recognised for their efforts.
Firefighters honoured
Mr Jenson was one of 170 current and former FFMVic firefighters and staff who have been awarded National Emergency Medals in Wodonga this month for their efforts in containing the Walwa fire and several others that ripped through the north-east that season.
FFMVic chief fire officer Chris Hardman said the medals go beyond recognising the efforts of firefighters.
“I know that most [firefighters] miss their Christmases, miss birthdays, miss [their] kids’ events … because they are out there deep in forests working hard to protect our communities.”
Deputy chief fire officer for the Hume District Aaron Kennedy received a medal for his operational work during the bushfire season.
He said firefighters faced difficult conditions every summer and there were not many who decided to give up the challenging role.
“Our staff are very committed and we’ve found that they’re really driven to serve the communities in which they are a local part of,” he said.
In addition to receiving the National Emergency Medal, Ovens fire manager Jarrod Hayes was also awarded a medal for 19 years of service.
He said he was proud of the work his team did, but there was a lot to be learnt from the Black Summer bushfires.
“There’s been lots of learnings coming from such a large fire event that occurred through the eastern seaboard of Australia, right down into Victoria,” Mr Hayes said.
Warnings ahead of this summer
The Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for spring showed there was an increased fire risk in drought-affected areas in Victoria.
While heavy rain has fallen consistently in June and July in the south-west, central, eastern and north-east Victoria, low rainfall totals continue to be seen in the west and throughout south-west Gippsland.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan said he was worried Victorians were becoming complacent despite predictions of a more active fire season.
In NSW, Rural Fire Services chief commissioner Trent Curtin said it was a common misconception that people needed to be surrounded by the bush to be in danger.
“Spot fires ignited by embers have been recorded more than 20 kilometres away, putting homes far from the direct flames at risk,” he said.
He said that while firefighters would be on hand to assist, keeping properties safe was a shared responsibility.
“Our firefighters do an outstanding job in challenging conditions, but we can’t have a truck at every home,” he said.
