The last of the ACT taskforces that was deployed to Victoria to help with their fire-fighting efforts finally returned home at 8pm this evening.

 

This operation – the “Black Saturday” operation, has been one of the longest emergency operations in ACT history.  The ACT contributed over 550 personnel to the Victorian bushfire fighting efforts over a 21 day period.  We also had the sad ‘honour’ of being the only Country, State/Territory participating in the Vic bushfires response to have death in the field of one of its members.  It was alternately the most satisfying and most saddening experience for many ACT emergency service workers, both paid and volunteer.

 

All up, Rivers Unit sent 10 members as part of five taskforces (some went more than once) to Victoria as part of the ACTSES logistics support contingent.  We chalked up approximately 1060 field operational hours on this operation and many more hours were spent back in Canberra preparing, planning and coordinating our participation.  For Rivers Unit, the operation went continuously from 11^th – 21^st Feb and then again from 26^th Feb – 4^th Mar. For the ACT, the 1^st taskforce was despatched on 8^th Feb, after a fire storm hit multiple Victorian communities on 7^th Feb 2009 – the day dubbed “Black Saturday” and concluded today with the return of all personnel, vehicles and other resources.

 

It has been a long, protracted, wearying operation for all people involved in, and affected by the Victorian bushfires.  Now, perhaps, things can start to return to normal (easier for some than others though!).