Volunteer Danish firefighters ARE coming to Australia – a week after the government declined Denmark offer to send help
- Firefighter Assistance Denmark said ten people would be sent to Australia
- The firefighters will help cut down trees and clean up the bushfire devastation
- Australian authorities declined for a 50-member team from Denmark last week
A group of ten volunteer firefighters will leave Denmark this week to help battle Australia’s bushfire crisis after an official Danish offer to assist was turned down.
Firefighter Assistance Denmark said the volunteers will help cut down trees and clean up.
‘We have now put together a strong team based on experience and training, and these people have been contacted directly,’ the group said in a statement on its Facebook page.
The man who organised the initial petition to come to Australia, Søren Elkrog (pictured), is among the ten firefighters who will fly out to battle the bushfires
A group of ten volunteer firefighters will leave Denmark this week to assist with fighting Australia’s wildfires after an official Danish offer to assist was turned down
‘We cannot thank all of you enough for the great interest and all the many enrollments. We hope that later we can send more teams.’
The Danish Emergency Management Agency said last week that Australian authorities had declined an offer of aid in the form of a 50-member team from Denmark.
The group was then contacted by a volunteer-based organisation in Australia called BlazeAid, which said it needed help to fell trees and clear areas so people can return to their homes.
More than 400 Danish firefighters had raised their hand to fight the horrific blazes alongside their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
However, the Australian government declined the offer despite firefighters being stretched thin by the unprecedented crisis.
‘We’ve received a warm thanks for the offer, but sending Danish firefighters here and now won’t be an option,’ Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen said in a statement.
Bushfires have been raging in Australia since September, taking dozens of lives and destroying thousands of properties
‘There is no desire from the Australians at the moment.’
Australia’s ambassador to Denmark, Mary Ellen Miller, thanked the firefighters for their offer but insisted their help was not required.
Ms Miller said Australia is ‘really well equipped’ to deal with the situation.
Daily Mail Australia asked the Home Affairs Department for more information on the reasons for the decision earlier this week.
Home Affairs refused to comment on the Danish offer specifically, saying only that the government was receiving numerous offers of assistance.
‘These requests are being worked through in close consultation with the states and territories to determine the best options to support our emergency service personnel and fire-affected communities,’ it said.
It is not clear when the volunteer group will depart for Australia.
The man who organised the initial petition to come to Australia, Søren Elkrog, is among the 10 firefighters who will fly down under.
He initially said the group wouldn’t be able to bring their equipment and would mostly act in a support capacity.