NT Fire and Emergency Services (NTFES) will deploy 3 members to Victoria to assist with the current fire response near the Grampians in western Victoria.

There are two major fires burning in the northern and southern parts of the Grampians, spanning a total of 18,000 hectares, with multiple "watch and act" warnings currently in effect for residents in the area.

The Victorian Government formally requested assistance from all jurisdictions throughout Australia last night, prompting an immediate response from the NT. Personnel were swiftly organised, with the three Incident Management Team members scheduled to depart tomorrow morning joining up with Queensland counterparts in a joint Incident Management Team.

The team, consisting of NTFES Fire and Rescue and Bushfires NT staff will assist with incident management roles alongside their Queensland counterparts.

NT Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, Andrew Warton, stated NT crews are highly skilled and ready to support our colleagues in Victoria.

The Northern Territory and Victoria share a strong relationship, with similar experiences in managing remote, challenging terrain and pastoral land. We’re more than happy to step up and assist during this critical time," he said.

“Given the scale of the bushfire, Victoria requested additional capacity to aid in the response efforts. NTFES personnel, who are well-trained in incident management, will provide essential incident managements skills”.

“While large fires are not uncommon in Victoria, the size and intensity of these fires at this time of year are confronting. Our thoughts are with those impacted by the fires.”

This deployment highlights the dedication and core values of the NT Fire and Emergency Services. Many of these individuals put their personal lives on hold to assist communities, as well as others in need during times of crisis.

The recent formation of the NT Fire and Emergency Services, which combines the NT Fire and Rescue Service, NT Emergency Service, and Bushfires NT into one agency, enhances our ability to respond to emergencies while prioritizing community resilience.