PERTH, Australia - Australia’s beleaguered prime minister announced Tuesday that volunteer firefighters from the federal public sector will receive paid leave entitlements in a move to help contain wildfires that have ravaged parts of the country. Authorities have warned that the fires in New South Wales could fester for months, causing more angst for exhausted firefighters. The opposition Labor party has pressed the government to consider compensation for volunteer firefighters. “Today’s announcement is about ensuring our volunteer firefighters can keep focused on the job at hand,” the prime minister said. Morrison on Tuesday toured an area in South Australia state where up to 200 volunteer firefighters continued battling a 25,000-hectare blaze.

Source: thestar December 24, 2019 07:28 UTC