Fire and Emergency New Zealand has today deployed the second rotation of firefighters to help combat a number of significant wildfires in Tasmania.

Fires have been burning since late December, mainly in the southwest of the island state, following a heatwave and period of lightning strikes and high winds.

The 21-strong taskforce of frontline firefighters replaces the previous contingent deployed three weeks ago. The new team will join nine incident management personnel already sent over to assist Tasmanian authorities with planning, intelligence and aviation support.

Fire and Emergency National Manager Rural, Kevin O’Connor says a risk assessment of New Zealand’s fire danger situation, and current resources has been carried out.

"We are confident we have sufficient resources in New Zealand to meet the needs of our communities in light of the current and forecasted fire danger levels," Kevin O’Connor says.

"We want to reassure the public that we have the resources required to combat the fire near Nelson, and are prepared for the event of another large-scale fire elsewhere."

The joint taskforce combines firefighters from Fire and Emergency, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Department of Conservation and forestry companies.

"These firefighters are going into extremely tough conditions. They will be flown in and out of steep and remote areas by helicopter in hot and windy weather."

It is the 23rd time New Zealand fire personnel have been deployed overseas since 2000, the 11th time to Australia and third time to Tasmania.

Mr O’Connor says the deployment highlights the high regard in which Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel are held internationally, following the August 2018 deployments to Canada and the United States.

The New Zealand crews join others in Tasmania from around Australia.

Fire and Emergency has also received a request to assist with multiple wildfires in the Australian state of Victoria, but has declined due to our current resource commitment in Tasmania and our domestic priorities.

Current situation in Tasmania:

- 36 active fires

- 199,948 hectares burnt (approx.)

- 1,927km fire edge

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