More New Zealand firefighters to help in Australia

Another 20 New Zealand firefighters are leaving for Melbourne at lunchtime today to fight the Victorian blazes.

National Rural Fire Officer Murary Dudfield said the firefighters would join their 13 compatriots in the Victorian back country.

Eight of the firefighters are from the Department of Conservation and the rest from forestry companies. They are from the East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Canterbury.

Mr Dudfield said the firefighters were taking radio equipment with them.

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