Local RFS assist firefighters down south

The strike team was sent to Newcastle to assist crews while RFS Lower North Coast Zone District Officer Christian Yanni has been stationed in the Moruya area for the past few days.

"We arrived at around midday on Saturday and were thrown right into the deep end on the dangerous fire condition day," Christian said.

"Not being from the area, the first thing I had to do was figure out where everything was."

Christian is assisting local RFS staff in coordinating the fire fighting effort.

"I'm working in the operations cell which means everything that's the here and now. I've been talking directly with crews in trucks, coordinating aircraft and dozers.

"My role down here is to help coordinate the fire fight."

Christian travelled to the area with two other RFS staff members from Coffs Harbour and Armidale who are working in mapping and planning.

"Saturday was very fast-paced, we were just bombarded with information," Christian said.

"We had over 100 Triple Zero calls that we had to filter and then coordinate with crews on where these people were."

Christian is working in the far South Coast area of NSW which encompasses the Bega and Eurobodalla Local Government areas.

"The area is from north of Batemans Bay down to the Victorian border and west to the ranges. It's a big area to cover.

"They were slammed down here on New Year's Eve and now the weather is easing and there has been some light rain on the fireground near Moruya."

Christian will be stationed in the Moruya area until Thursday.

"For the next few days we will be taking advantage of the easing weather to construct containment lines and back burn, but because the fireground is so large, we won't get fully around it before the conditions worsen again on Friday," he said.

"It's impossible to get around the whole fire and contain it in a couple of days. Friday isn't expected to be as bad as Saturday was but it will be dangerous conditions.

"Our main focus is to protect property and lives on the bad days and make the most of the favourable weather to get it under control."

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