After 3 days away at a large bushfire near Dongara, SWORD VFES crews returned home today. Our appliances, along with a Metropolitan Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service 3.4U formed Task Force SWORD, led by DO SWORD Mike Teraci AFSM. The Task Force worked closely with crews from nearby local brigades, volunteer groups from across the metropolitan area and Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia fire crews. Crews participated in a wide variety of firefighting activities, including chasing fast moving spot fires in pasture, defending and subsequently mopping up Brand Highway to enable it's reopening, protecting earthmoving machinery as firebreaks were created, and ensuring affected farmland was made safe as landowners returned to begin the difficult job of dealing with the impact of the incident. As you gear up to enjoy tonight’s NYE fireworks, spare a thought for our SWORD VFES volunteers. While you’re watching the sparks fly, new crews will be battling a fire of their own at a separate incident north of Perth. It’s never a dull moment for SWORD VFES this time of year!
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