Narrabri VRA members in wide community response to bushfires

There has been a wide community response to the south coast bushfires, with personnel from several emergency and other services travelling to the devastated areas to help out with the fires and post-fire recovery.

Narrabri VRA personnel are among those who have gone to the south coast fire stricken towns and region.

VRA chaplain Chris Silver has just returned from a week at Nowra.

Some VRA personnel are also members of the RFS and have gone to the fires in that role.

Narrabri VRA is obliged to maintain a capable presence in Narrabri at all times, a factor which must be considered when responding to out of town emergencies.

“The VRA can’t deplete our 24/7 on call requirement as Narrabri’s main rescue resource” said deputy captain Harvey Black.

‘We are obliged to maintain a presence in Narrabri at all times.

“However some of our members are also members of the RFS and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other services and have gone to the fires in that capacity.”

VRA chaplain Chris Silver has made several trips to the Fire Control Centre at Nowra, the epicentre for some of the worst fires, with five day deployments in logistics support.

“We don’t know if we will be called back” he added.

And VRA personnel have been engaged at the Narrabri Fire Control Centre during the emergency.