Forest Fire Operation Officer Jasmine Mace is busy getting ready for the fire season ahead
Forest Fire Operation Officer Jasmine Mace from Edenhope said her role in the Forest and Roading team and her passion for the environment has helped her become a valuable member of her local community.
Looking after 27 state forests is no easy task. There are many different user groups and community members who have a strong interest in what happens in our state forests.
Jasmine’s role involves engaging with many diverse groups including friends groups, schools, and fire brigades within the Wimmera District.
"In the forest and roading space I look after roads and tracks, weeds and pest species, firewood areas and apiary sites and my favourite, post fire rehabilitation. I also hold a fire response role which includes being a Uni-mog tanker operator and crew leader. I participate in fuel reduction works such as slashing townships and forests and help undertake planned burn preparations and operations.”
“For the fire season ahead, I am helping my team with track clearing, slashing around townships and wetlands, gear preparation and planned burning. I am also helping train the new recruits and I am very excited to watch them progress and enjoy a rewarding career.”
“I have a deep passion for the environment and I understand how what we do impacts the beautiful flora and fauna in the West Wimmera. I love learning as much as I can from the locals, enthusiasts and other crew so I can pass this on to anyone who might be interested. I am easily excited by Red-tailed black cockatoos and the protection of this key species.”
“I volunteered with the CFA in 2009 and loved the community spirit and the activities my brigade undertook. In small coastal towns, the landscape can be both a blessing and curse for the residents. I joined Cannons Creek Foreshore Committee and became the CFA representative on the residents committee. This was an opportunity for many different parties to raise concerns and aspirations for the bush surrounding the town by holding bushfire information sessions. It was a great opportunity for me to learn about planned burns.”
“Through this journey I became a Project Firefighter down at Rosebud. My brigades have always been supportive and embraced my career choice and this has helped me in my time as a training officer bringing a different perspective to fire.”
