Paula’s SES Deployment – The Otway fires

Our Accounts Manager and Moorabbin SES Volunteer Paula, recently deployed to The Otway fires for 5 days, supporting fire operations in and around the fire grounds.

“I was based at a temporary “tent city” at the Colac footy ground.  The base camp provided accommodation for up to 268 emergency personnel from agencies including CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, Forest Fire Management Victoria, wildlife support groups, government organisations and interstate crews.  This temporary accommodation comprising of 268 tents, communal marquee, with catering and bathroom facilities was set up in a matter of days.

My role was to provide logistical support to the Incident Control Centre in Colac, delivering critical supplies to lots of areas that were closed to the general public such as the staging areas in Gellibrand and Irrewillipe. I also escorted contractors to key infrastructure in and around Carlisle River, assisted in dismantling a decommissioned base camp in Brucknell, transported equipment, and supported operational requests as needed.

I also assisted with base camp operations — setting up and maintaining tents, preparing them for incoming crews, installing safety measures, and ensuring essential supplies were well stocked.

My total distance walked while I was away was 65km – that was a lot of fetching and carrying!

The fires had been contained as I left the area, but they were still burning.  A lot of bushland has been burned and around 17 houses have been lost. But it’s fantastic to see the emergency response in action and to be a part of it.  All the emergency personnel (especially the fire fighters) do an amazing job in very trying circumstances.

Paula – seated second from the left.