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Western fire volunteers head east

The Orana Rural Fire Service says volunteers have been returning for repeat stints fighting fires in the Blue Mountains.

There are more than 30 people and three fire trucks from the local region working on rotation battling fires around Lithgow and Springwood.

The Manager of the Orana RFS, Lyndon Weiland, says local businesses have been obliging in letting people take time off work to attend the fires.

“We owe it to the businesses of the area for allowing their employees to volunteer to go away and help out in emergencies,” he said.

“Sometimes we forget about the people who stay behind and do extra work in the businesses to allow other volunteers to go away.

“So, we need to thank the business houses also for making their volunteers available to go away.”

Mr Weiland has praised the strength of volunteers who have headed back to the fire front multiple times.

“We’re leaving tankers down there and the guys just travel down on one of our busses and the other guys jump back on the bus and come back home.

“It’s going to be a long commitment for the guys and they’ve done a fantastic job so far, they’re working in very difficult conditions, very dangerous conditions and they’re all coming back and lining up to go again.”

A team of about 40 firefighters from New South Wales Fire and Rescue is also reinforcing crews in the Blue Mountains.

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