More Australian Defence Force personnel will be deployed to NSW to battle blazes

The federal government has deployed additional Australian Defence Force resources to support authorities in fire-hit NSW.

Specialist defence personnel will be sent to advise NSW fire incident controllers at each of the 14 control centres around the state, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement on Friday.

Those personnel would be able to free up ADF resources such as bulldozers, bulk water carriers and troops for NSW firefighting use.

An aircrewman monitors the Tianjara fire from a helicopter in the Moreton and Jerrawangala National Park in Moreton on December 21

‘We’ll continue to do everything in our power to ensure our fireys have the resources and support they need,’ Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said the ADF was already providing numerous services for firefighting authorities including helicopter search and rescue, transport, accommodation, meals and refuelling.

The addition of defence personnel at NSW fire control centres would help coordinate ADF logistical support, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said.

Air Force bases were also supporting NSW’s air tanker fleet.

‘This behind the scenes support from the ADF frees up more of our firefighters to perform their specialised roles fighting the fires,’ Ms Reynolds said.

Two firefighters were killed and as many as 100 houses destroyed when bushfires ripped through NSW on Thursday and Saturday last week.

Mr Morrison said the ADF was already providing numerous services for firefighting authorities including helicopter search and rescue, transport, accommodation, meals and refuelling

At least 873 NSW homes have been destroyed this fire season.

The government’s deployment of additional ADF personnel follows their decision to grant Commonwealth public service workers at least four weeks paid leave to fight bushfires in a plan to get more ‘boots on the ground’. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the Christmas Eve announcement as 40 fires continued to burn out of control in New South Wales, his home state.

The Rural Fire Service is made up of volunteers taking time off work to fight blazes. 

Australia is battling the worst drought in living memory, with more than 3million hectares of bushland burnt in NSW during recent weeks.

Mr Morrison’s Tuesday announcement, affecting Australia’s 147,237 public servants, was made three days after he cut short his annual leave to return from Hawaii. 

At least 873 NSW homes have been destroyed this fire season. Firefighters are seen trying to control the Gospers Mountain fire last week 

Scott Morrison flies over bushfires in an Australian Defence Force helicopter in New South Wales on Monday

‘One of the things I’ve heard on the ground is that some people are dipping into their other leave entitlements to stay out there battling blazes,’ he said.

‘Today’s announcement is about ensuring our volunteer firefighters can keep focused on the job at hand.’

Under the changes, all Commonwealth public service workers will get at least 20 working days paid leave, or 28 calendar days, if they volunteer for fire fighting efforts.

This would effectively double their total annual leave from four to eight weeks. 

Any additional leave would be provided for as needed.