Up to 3,000 reserve personnel will be called upon to participate in the suppression of large-scale forest fires raging in eastern Australia, and to provide assistance to victims. This was announced on Saturday, January 4, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, reports DW.

According to the Australian online edition of The Weekend Australian, this is the first such case in the history of the country. Three joint working groups have been created to assist in the fight against fires in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.. Their main tasks will be to provide food for the residents of these states, to help evacuate vulnerable citizens, to identify areas where fire could potentially start, and to fight fires at a distance from direct foci of flame.