WA SAES teams support fire crews through extreme conditions

WA SAES teams like this dedicated crew have been serving meals in Port Kennedy, Davenport and Carnarvon. Images: Supplied

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE

Over the past week, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams in Western Australia have supported firefighters with freshly prepared meals and snacks as they brought three separate blazes under control.

With hot weather contributing to fires across the country, SAES teams in multiple states have been meeting the needs of fire response crews. All significant fires in Western Australia are currently back under control, with SAES Response Coordinator for WA Benjamin Day saying crews are now focusing on preparing for whatever might come next.

Read more: SAES crews feed fire response teams across Western Australia

In the early hours of 4 February, SAES teams deployed to Port Kennedy, near Rockingham, to provide dinners and light meals for 55 firefighters working to contain a blaze that took two days to fully control.

On the same day, SAES teams were also deployed to a fire in Davenport, a suburb of Bunbury, a city two hours south of Perth.

On 31 January, SAES staff and volunteer couple Sonya and Dave Cooper also flew to a cattle station in Carnarvon, a nine-hour drive north of Perth, to support fire crews battling a bushfire. The couple spent five days cooking in extreme conditions, where each day temperatures exceeded 45 degrees Celsius, with little air conditioning.

Read more: SAES responds to ‘once-in-a-century’ flood crisis in North Queensland

Benjamin said his teams were able to adapt when needed, with smaller crews of capable volunteers and staff members deploying to remote areas when the need arose.

“We’re proud of our volunteers that they can step up when that happens,” he said.

Click through the slideshow below for more photos:

The WA SAES teams have been assisting the community and serving meals in Port Kennedy, Davenport and Carnarvon. Images: Supplied