As bushfires continue to impact communities across Victoria, a State of Disaster remains in place in parts of the state, enabling emergency services and support agencies to respond quickly to fast changing conditions.

During this challenging period, St John Ambulance Victoria is actively supporting communities across multiple bushfire-affected locations, providing first aid, health monitoring and reassurance to evacuees, emergency responders and local residents.

Expanded support across multiple locations

St John Ambulance Victoria volunteers have been based at six different locations since last Friday, 9 January and are currently deployed across four active sites, supporting Emergency Relief Centres (ERCs) and frontline response operations in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. These deployments cover areas affected by the Longwood, Tallangatta and Walwa fires, including:

• Whittlesea, supporting the local Emergency Relief Centre
• Wodonga, providing first aid services at the Emergency Relief Centre assisting evacuees from the Tallangatta fire
• Tallangatta, delivering health monitoring support for emergency personnel operating at the staging ground
• Seymour, assisting the Emergency Relief Centre supporting communities impacted by the Longwood fire

The support operations deployment was recently concluded at Bannockburn and Seymour, where volunteers provided health monitoring assistance to firefighters before the deployment was safely stood down.

Across these locations, St John volunteers are supporting evacuees as well as emergency service personnel, responding to a wide range of needs, from heat-related illness and smoke exposure to minor injuries and general wellbeing checks. Many times, their supportive ear is all that is needed, as people adapt to the changing and unknown situation at hand. As conditions continue to evolve, deployments are being regularly reassessed in close coordination with emergency management partners, including councils and government departments.

Looking after yourself and others during bushfires

Bushfires, smoke and extreme heat can significantly impact health and wellbeing. St John Ambulance Victoria encourages all community members to:

• Stay informed by monitoring official emergency warnings and advice
• Follow evacuation instructions immediately if advised to do so
• Minimise smoke exposure, particularly for children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions
• Stay hydrated, rest when possible, and avoid strenuous activity in extreme heat
• Check on neighbours, friends and family who may need additional support

Anyone experiencing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, chest pain, heat exhaustion or burns should seek medical help immediately or approach a St John first aid volunteer for assistance.

Standing with communities when it matters most

In times of crisis, St John Ambulance Victoria volunteers step forward without hesitation, providing calm, compassionate care when communities need it most. Whether supporting evacuation centres, monitoring the health of firefighters, or assisting emergency services in demanding conditions, their efforts reflect our mission: For the Service of Humanity.

St John Ambulance Victoria remains ready to respond as the situation develops, continuing to work alongside emergency management partners to support the safety, health and wellbeing of Victorians throughout this bushfire emergency.

For more information on first aid, emergency preparedness, or how St John supports communities during emergencies, visit St John Ambulance Australia (VIC) INC