THE Latrobe Regional Airport and Department of Sustainability and Environment Airbase were a hub of activity on Friday as air crews refuelled and reported there in the wake of the bushfires decimating Gippsland.
According to airbase manager Carole Macmillan, crews from DSE, Country Fire Authority, Parks Victoria and Hancock Victoria Plantations were all working from the airbase.
“It’s been two really busy days,” Ms Macmillan said.
“We have 14 aircraft here today.”
The aircraft were water-bombing aircraft as well as carrying out air observation, feeding information back to a control centre about the fire situation around the Glenmaggie and Aberfeldy areas.
Latrobe Regional Airport was also the refuelling base of sky crane Elvis, which has been dumping water over areas which were alight.
