Concerns for firefighters’ wellbeing
Concerns for firefighters’ wellbeing
09 May 2013
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — Tasmania’s Fire Service has found about one in five fire fighters has been severely affected by the state’s recent bushfires.
The past fire summer was the worst Tasmania’s Fire Service had experienced since 1967, with more than 400 properties lost in blazes over four months.
With the season ending only weeks ago, there is concern many firefighters are exhausted.
The service has started a new project to find out how it can best help those still struggling.
Volunteer Kevin Daly was among the Dunalley fire crews who tried to defend the town from fireballs which eventually destroyed 200 homes.
He worked to protect houses knowing that his own could be destroyed and he was unable to contact his family.
“There’s not a day goes by you don’t think about it, you can’t go through a situation like that and not have some emotional scarring,” he said.
Although no-one died it caused trauma for some firefighters, especially those living in devastated areas.
“Every day we are reminded of it. There’s a lot of vacant blocks in the town now,” Mr Daley said.
“At night time there are a lot of lights that are not turned on.”
Chief Fire Officer Mike Brown says the TFS is trying to better understand the full impact of the bushfires.
“We had thousands literally people were exposed to working very very hard and working on the campaign fires that continued for such a long period of time,” he said.
The TFS has surveyed staff and found one in five volunteers or paid fire fighters across the state are still reeling from the blazes.
It is trying to better understand the full impact of the bushfires.
The next phase of the project will be to develop extra counselling programs to help fire fighters adjust to better support fire fighters in the future.
The Federal Government has announced extra funding for services dealing with the aftermath of the Tasmanian bushfires.
The Salvation Army will receive $30,000 while Hobart District Nursing will get $9,000.
