DELWP Born and raised in east Gippsland, Lachlan is now on his sixth fire season as a PFF, joining his brother Chris who is currently the Bushfire Recovery Team Leader at the Orbost depot. Lachlan recently relocated to northeast Victoria to join the rappel team based out of the Oven’s depot.
‘I really enjoyed my time working in Gippsland, and the opportunity to work alongside my brother at numerous large fires,’ Lachlan said.
‘The rappel program has always appealed to me as a highly challenging and rewarding role.
‘Completing five seasons as a project firefighter before joining the rappel team has certainly helped me better understand forest firefighting, and how the whole team needs to work together to get the job done for the community.’
Lachlan has enjoyed the rappel training.
‘The rappel training program is very intensive, but it’s been such a tremendous experience.’
With much of Victoria’s public land being difficult to access, FFMVic employs specialist firefighters across the state
To do this, specialist firefighters rappel out of hovering helicopters to the ground and utilise dry firefighting methods such as rake-hoes and other tools to put in containment lines to help suppress the fire.
‘This job is really well-suited to me.’ Lachlan said.
‘I like a challenge, and I get to work with a great team in some of the most beautiful country in the world.’
Lachlan said his first rappel from a helicopter was something that he was both nervous for and looking forward to.
‘Most people get a bit nervous about their first rappel, but I was lucky that any fears I had left as soon as my feet hit the ground,’ Lachlan said.
‘From that moment on, it’s been a bit like riding a bike. You follow the right process and procedures, and everything falls into place.’
Lachlan has already had to put his firefighting and rappelling skills into action when he and the rappel team were sent out to suppress a fire in the Big River State Forest, near Lake Eildon.
‘All of the training came together, and everybody worked well throughout the whole operation, which ultimately lasted four days,’ Lachlan said.
‘We rappelled into the fire late in the day and were able to work with aircraft and ground crew to assist in restricting the fires movement that night.
‘Following that a helipad was constructed which allowed the ferrying of numerous ground crew to assist in the firefighting effort on the ground over the following three days.
‘After four days the fire was deemed as under control, and we were able to depart the fire line ready to be deployed again.’
Lachlan said the integration and teamwork between the numerous crews was evident over the duration of the fire.
‘The way the various teams worked together led to a great result not only for forest environment but for the wider community as well,’ Lachlan said.
To become a rappeler you must have at least one year’s experience as a general firefighter with either the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) or Parks Victoria and have gained accreditation as a DELWP general firefighter; or equivalent wild land firefighter experience.
To register your interest in becoming a project firefighter for the 2022/23 season visit the Firefighting and Employment page.
Page last updated: 21/01/22