SERVING on the frontline of fires burning right across the country, a Country Fire Service volunteer has continued to selflessly sacrifice time with his young daughter to protect Australia.
Called into action yesterday to help on Kangaroo Island, Port MacDonnell CFS First Lieutenant Wade Chant has bounced back quick after fighting a serious blaze at Nelson on the weekend.
The dedicated volunteer put up his hand to join 18 firefighters from the region to embark on a five-day deployment to face the fires which have devastated one half of the island.
“The mercury is rising Thursday, so we are expecting some tough conditions over there,” he said.
Serving as the crew leader, it will be the sixth time this season Mr Chant has fought fires burning outside his Kingsley district.
“I have already been deployed to Queensland, New South Wales, Cudlee Creek, Keilira and then Nelson on the weekend and I have spent at least four to five weeks on the fireground since October,” he said.
“Driving through some of the little towns and seeing houses destroyed so close to Christmas, you feel for them you really do and I just want to give back.”
However, sacrificing work and leaving his young family has been difficult.
“I’m a single father and I have a four-year-old at home and having to leave all the time is tough, but you just want to help wherever you can,” Mr Chant said.
“Work is the other thing, I have used all my annual leave hours, but you keep doing it because these people in the affected areas need help.”
Mr Chant was quick to point out he was not alone in contributing a lot of volunteer hours.
“Between our active crews, we have had people over to Kangaroo Island already, up to the Keilira fire, over to Cudlee Creek and then fighting our own flare-ups back home as well,” Mr Chant said.
“Usually at Port MacDonnell we are quiet until late January, but this season we have just been run off our feet.
“The fact we have crews from down here in Region 5 going all the way to Kangaroo Island and are having to drive trucks up shows how stretched we are.”
Thanking the community for its ongoing support towards the firefighting group, Mr Chant encouraged others to come forward and get involved.
“The best way to help is through donations or time and processes can be started to have you ready for next year’s fire season,” he said.
