Australian expertise fighting fires in Israel
Led by Sydney-based fire professional and educator Timothy Wainwright, who is not Jewish, OFS has carried out three voluntary missions to Israel in 2019, 2022 and 2024.
Operation Fire Support (OFS), which brings Australia’s wildfire prevention and suppression techniques to Israel, was recently honoured for its achievements in Tel Aviv on September 4.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Australia’s Deputy Head of Mission in Israel Dylan Lattacher, Director of the Pacific Desk at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs David Levy and Executive Director of the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce Paul Israel.
Led by Sydney-based fire professional and educator Timothy Wainwright, who is not Jewish, OFS has carried out three voluntary missions to Israel in 2019, 2022 and 2024.
The organisation has played a significant role in helping Israelis who have faced increased fire risks due to dry climate and ongoing security challenges. Hezbollah rockets have sparked fires across the northern border, while the evacuations of Israeli communities near Gaza and Lebanon have left vast areas dry and overgrown, vulnerable to wildfires.
The organisation also received a letter of praise from the Director-General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Jacob Blitshtein who wrote on September 4, “On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the people of Israel, I extend our heartfelt gratitude and profound appreciation for the remarkable contributions of Operation Fire Support.”
OFS told The AJN, “Our work stands as a testament to the strong ties between Australia and Israel, as well as the power of shared expertise in safeguarding lives and property in times of crisis.”
To support Operation Fire Support: operationfiresupport.org/donate
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