Under the Social Security Act of 1991, an Australian government can provide a form of income support for firefighters if a major disaster is declared. 9News
"This will help to cover the immediate needs of those worst hit, and help them get through the coming days," emergency management minister David Littleproud said in a statement on Thursday.
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said firefighters had been doing challenging work in areas like the Blue Mountains and NSW south coast. Blue Mountains City Council mayor Mark Greenhill said this year's extended bushfire season meant locals were living with stress for a long time. "There are people who went through very, very difficult times in 2013 for whom this must bring back a lot, that worries me greatly," Mr Greenhill said.
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