Australian army reservists assist in bushfire prevention battle Australia's first compulsory call-up of army reservists occurred at the start of January as bushfires raged across southeast Australia. A barracks of about a hundred reservist soldiers was set up in the fire-ravaged town of Cobargo in News South Wales state on almost two weeks ago, where they have been cutting down dangerous trees, clearing roads and helping locals clear up after the devastation. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES