March 8, 2009

Rural firefighter will return to help in Victoria if bushfires flare again- Jim Herdman has arrived back in NZ
A rural firefighter who has just returned from Australia says he will go back to help if the fires in the state of Victoria flare up again.
The first New Zealand contingent sent over has been relieved of its duties after heavy rain lightened the workload.
It was made up of staff from the Defence Force, Department of Conservation and Rural Firefighters.
A second kiwi group is still dampening down hot spots in Victoria.
DOC officer Jim Herdman flew into Wellington yesterday.
He says the locals across the Tasman were thrilled with the massive international response to their plight.
Jim Herdman says despite the number of different agencies involved, it was handled fairly seamlessly.
He says they were the most devastating fires he has worked on.
The bushfires broke out in February, and claimed more than 200 lives.