March 12, 2009

One day he's helping to fight the Victoria bushfires, beating back flames and dodging falling trees in the searing heat.
The next, he's back in the Pohangina Valley, tending tramping trails and hunting goats in his day job as a Department of Conservation ranger.
Duncan Toogood has some pretty good work stories.
The Palmerston North local flew back into town last week, after spending 16 days in the hot Australian bush with a New Zealand contingent of rural firefighters.
His team joined up with 800 other firefighters from across Australia, Canada and the United States at a base in the Warburton Valley, near Melbourne.
There they spent 12-hour days in full-body protective overalls, helmets and gloves, clearing the dense bush to create fire breaks and stop the raging fires that had already claimed hundreds of lives.
Part of Mr Toogood's job as a DOC ranger is to be a rural firefighter, so when the chance came up to go to Victoria he jumped at the opportunity for extra training.
He expected it to be 'pretty hot' and was not disappointed.
'There was fire, and smoke, and there were a few days when there was so much smoke we were wearing handkerchiefs to be able to breathe.'
Mr Toogood, 27, was crew leader in a group of four.
His main job was monitoring weather conditions, and keeping an eye out for weakened Eucalyptus trees crashing to the ground.
In air thick with dust, the group used 'dry firefighting' techniques.
Vegetation was dug out, and fires lit to push back the bigger fires.
Firefighters drank at least three litres of water a day to stay hydrated in temperatures of around 38 degrees Celsius.
'It was hot, hard physical work. You have always got places where the fire is next to you, big logs that are still burning.
'There were a few times when we hit quite active fires, so that was exciting. Probably if you had time to stop and think about it, it's scary, but luckily the adrenaline takes over.'
They were stationed about 30 kilometres out of Marysville, the town completely destroyed by fire. Meeting local firefighters who had lost relatives was sobering, Mr Toogood said.
'We were told to be a bit careful when talking to people about fires. I don't know whether it hadn't hit them properly or if they were worried about their own safety, but they were open about it. They were all saying how glad they were people were here to help them out.'
Alan Thompson, 1st NZ Contingent Information Officer, said a second contingent of 55 men was in Australia now.
Easing conditions meant a third team would not be needed.