Staff in an Orange control room are playing a vital role in managing part of the bushfire crisis that has blackened much of the state's north-east.
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For the past three weeks staff at the Department of Primary Industries building in Kite Street have been operating a control centre co-ordinating aid for fire victims.
Simon Oliver, the state emergency co-ordinator for the agriculture and animals service functional area, said it was the third time in recent months the control centre had swung into action followed repeated bushfire disasters.
Staff at the war room operate from 7am-7pm daily to organise fodder, water, fencing and other assistance for farmers who have suffered losses in the coastal and inland bushfire events.
Over 4000 animals have ended up in evacuation centres, mainly horses.
- Simon Oliver, state emergency co-ordinator for agriculture and animals
He said they also operated evacuation centres for farmers and property owners to bring their animals during the fires.
"Over 4000 animals have ended up in evacuation centres, mainly horses," he said.
"People turn up with their chooks in cages. They're peoples' backyard pets. We've had a lot of cats and dogs.
"We've got three dingoes in care from a wildlife park."
The war room helps about 150 staff in the field, many are Local Land Services' workers, who are working directly with property owners in the areas.
Mr Oliver said they bought fodder, mainly from Victoria, and supplied water from about 13 dams and other sites to help farmers recover and keep operating.
So far they have provided 4100 tonnes of fodder and 1.5 megalitres of water.
He said the fires had been devastating to farmers with 2500 head of stock killed in the Busby Flat fire south of Casino and a further 700 animals dying in the latest fire outbreaks.
Mr Oliver said staff had to organise burial pits.
And he said some of the staff had also been affected.
"On the north coast a number of people who are providing support have had to go home and protect their own properties," he said.
Mr Oliver said staff were trained in the emergency roles and were ready to respond when emergencies broke out.
He said at the height of the crisis other staff from the Orange office were brought into the control centre to help out, receiving just-in-time training to get involved.
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