Local teams join battle

CFA photographer Keith Pakenham was deployed to the Anakie fire in the Brisbane Ranges as crew leader and firefighter aboard a Dandenong tanker last week.
In between his work, Mr Pakenham stopped to take photographss of fellow Dandenong volunteers helping to alleviate the bushfire threat.
“All crews worked long and hard throughout the mountain ranges dousing smouldering hot spots with hose lines and rakehoes,” he said.
“The strike teams comprise of five tankers and a strike team leader’s car with crews who were briefed and dispatched to various locations in the area during each day and night shift.
“Relief crews were sent every 12 hours or so as required.
“The Dandenong tanker crew shared a dam for refilling our tankers along with helicopter Helitaks for water bombing.”