Following the terrible fires that tore through the small town of Mallacoota close to the Victorian border on Tuesday, December 31, oil company Esso has been asked by emergency services to provide operational support.
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The fires are continuing to affect property in the town where over 4000 people remain cut off after facing an extreme emergency as fire raced towards homes and people sheltering.
An Esso spokesman said the air and sea help was being provided. The company has three gas plants and one crude oil stabilisation plant at Longford, 20kms from Sale in South Gippsland.
"We have made an offshore support vessel, the Far Saracen, available and the vessel is now at Mallacoota and supporting response actions there," the spokesman said.
"We are preparing a second vessel, the Far Senator, to be available to mobilise to Mallacoota in the coming days.
"Two of Esso's fleet of helicopters are also being made available to evacuate impacted community members from Mallacoota, as well as assist emergency services personnel in getting to those impacted," he added.
Read also: Evacuees share stories of drama and escapes
The helicopters are due to arrive this afternoon.
"Esso has been a longtime supporter of our local emergency services and we will do whatever we can to assist in times of emergency and natural disaster.
"We will continue to work with emergency services to explore every possible way to help these impacted communities and as an active member of the Gippsland community, we stand ready to assist."
