November 2011
The weather is warming up — just in time for the brigade’s skills refresher and BBQ days on 12th and 26th November, from 3pm.
Phone Neil Breeze on (02) 4465 1005 or 0458 453 546 for more info and catering arrangements.
Existing members will have a chance to brush up on their skills and all in the valley are welcome to come along and meet the brigade, pick up your bushfire safety info pack, or get a photo with the trucks.
After our membership drive, we have one new recruit — a great start — and look forward to a few more new members to keep him company in the training (Wednesdays from 6.00 p.m.).
October call-outs
With repair work on the bridge complete, both trucks are back in the fire station.
1st call-out this month was to assist police in handling a situation involving potential risk to life from fire.
Luckily, this was resolved reasonably quickly.
2nd call-out was to a smoke sighting, following a permit suspension being enacted.
Fire control will suspend all permits if weather conditions are unsafe for lighting a fire.
But, because there are many permits issued at any one time, Fire Control cannot ring around to contact each permit holder — it’s not logistically feasible.
Instead, permit suspensions are broadcast on local radio 2ST (or confirm with your Permit Issuing Officer on the day you wish to start the fire).
Each permit holder is responsible for checking if a permit suspension is in place.
Before you light a fire, always: check your permit is current; check the weather forecast and fire danger status; mow or scrape back the perimeter of the fire.
DO NOT light a fire on days of high temperature and low humidity, or when there is high fire danger.
Listen to local radio station 2ST for notice of a permit suspension by Fire Control.
Did you know? Grass fires can easily start with a spark from a mower, slasher, harvester, chainsaw, welder or grinder…and in this warm, dry weather a fire will burn fast and hot. These tools can’t be used during a Total Fire Ban.
Keep equipment well maintained and fit a spark arrestor if possible.
Always check the fire danger status before starting up tools or, of course, before lighting any fire — even with a permit.
If you see a grass fire, call Emergency 000 ‘Triple Zero’ immediately.
Guide to action: November
From the RFS website: “With recent drought-breaking rains resulting in significant grass growth, communities across NSW are facing a difficult fire season.
Grass fires can be especially dangerous because they can start quickly and spread rapidly, catching people off-guard.
They can…produce large amounts of heat which can kill anyone caught out in the open.”
The NSW Rural Fire Service urge people to be aware and well prepared.
So, what can you do?
1 Have a Bushfire Survival Plan to help you and your family prepare and survive a grassfire or bushfire.
2 Prepare an Emergency Survival Kit.
Such a kit means easy access to emergency needs in the case of a fire, or other natural disaster. (You can find a full list of suggested inclusions on the RFS website.)
Once you’ve prepared yourself, you should prepare your property.
Things to consider include:
3 Keep firebreaks mowed, ploughed, slashed or even grazed along fence lines or around your home, shed and storage areas.
Well-maintained firebreaks can slow a fire’s spread.
4 Have a well-maintained area around your home, such as lawns, paths or gardens. Keep the grass cut and free of leaves and sticks.
5 Seal under floor spaces to stop embers entering under your house.
6 Make sure you’ve got water for firefighting, in case a fire is on your property. Have water tanks filled and connected to a pump.
7 Have a diesel pump. Electric pumps won’t work during a fire if the power goes out.
8 Store things like fuel or woodpiles well away from your house, on the side the fire is least likely to approach.
9 Check the access to your property. Ensure cattle grids or bridges can hold the weight of a fire truck.
10 Make sure you’ve got adequate levels of insurance for your home, contents, machinery and crops or stock.
(More information at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or from your brigade.)
News
In November, 6 of our members are booked in to do the course in Safe Working on Roofs.
We wish them luck for completing the training successfully.
We also welcome new recruit Jack and look forward to more residents joinig.
For anyone community-minded, being part of the brigade is an excellent way to give something back and the knowledge and skills you learn will come in handy around your property.
Come down to the fire station on a Wednesday night, or drop in to the BBQ days.
Training: Every Wednesday from 6.00 PM at the fire station
Maintenance: Sundays, 9.00 AM to 10.00 AM at the fire station
Info: Contact Dave (Dusty) Smart on
0427 651718 if you’d like to know more about the brigade and its activities, or come along to the BBQ days: from 3pm on November 12 and 26.