October 2011
At the time of writing this, the first of the bushfires for the year are already threatening parts of Sydney, the Blue Mountains and other regions of NSW, and a number of Kangaroo Valley residents have noticed and reported smoke sightings to Fire Control.
Happily, the smoke was due to a large hazard reduction burn between Tallowa Dam Rd and the river.
Part of a large (approx 700-hectare) burn to be conducted over four days by National Parks, some stronger winds than forecast have pushed this along a bit quicker than expected, generating a large smoke plume.
But fuel loads are relatively low: it was burning towards an area that was prescribe-burnt only last year and the surrounding area on the other side of Tallowa Dam Rd was last burnt in 2006.
Valley 1 was taken out to ensure all was under control and to provide water for the smaller National Park vehicles if required. This is an important burn as it follows Kangaroo River Fire Trail down to the dam storage and provides a useful fire-break in the event of a large fire this summer coming from the western end of the valley.
Although at times this controlled burn may’ve looked to be using that term a little loosely, it’s important to understand that, with this kind of vegetation, there are normally only two results: first (burn in a possibly frightening looking fashion) and reverse (not burn at all).
See the photos. We would like to congratulate National Parks for their well-run burn but the only criticism would be that better communication and notice to the local residents to alleviate concern, which could be done via the media as the window to conduct a hazard reduction is only very short
September callouts
There were no callouts this month but the brigade assisted an owner with a hazard reduction pile burn on one Sunday morning.
Did you know? PERMITS ARE NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL FIRES apart from a campfire used primarily for cooking purposes, and then it must be a properly cleared area and is still subject to any current fire restrictions.
Guide to action: October
Do you need to do a burn? How to get a permit:
· Contact a permit-issuing officer in your local brigade. DO NOT leave this to the last minute. Please understand these local people give up their time as volunteers and are not always available 7 days a week and may well need to inspect your proposed burn.
If their approval is given, you will now have a permit and permit number.
Bill Chittick 0400 873 012
Keith Nelson 0408 273 057
David Smart 0427 651 718
· You must give authorities at least 24 hours notice before you light a fire. Contact Nowra Fire Control (02) 4424 4424 at least 24 hours before the day of the fire. (Office open 9am to 5pm weekdays.) You’ll need to tell them:
1. Your name
2. Address where you will be lighting the fire
3. When you want to light the fire (date and time)
4. Your permit number
· You MUST also contact all immediate neighbours at least 24 hours prior and advise them of your intentions to light a fire.
Permit holders are reminded that they must be responsible for any fire they light and someone must remain with it at all times whilst it is alight. (Large log piles can burn for days and even weeks.) Large fines can be imposed if an illegal fire is lit. A number of property owners in the Shoalhaven were fined last year when authorities were called to illegal fires for which a permit had not been issued.
News
On the weekend of 16–18 September Peter Wilson, Ken Crocker and Valley 1 attended ‘Operation Eureka 2011’, a combined agencies training camp organised by the Shoalhaven Emergency Management Committee. There were participants representing the Rural Fire Service, Police, Ambulance Service, SES, Corrective Services, and Navy & Air Force.
The camp was held at Coolendel on the Shoalhaven River. There were around 80 attendees made up of participants, organisers and support staff. The Rural Fire Service Catering Unit supplied all the wonderful meals.
Both the Navy and the Ambulance Service brought their helicopters to the camp to demonstrate their capabilities and the equipment they have to assist in an emergency. It would be great if KV could replace Valley 2 with one, but the cost may be an issue.
Realistic props and actors (the photos show how realistic it was) were used to simulate true-life situations. We were all involved in attending a multiple car accident, a helicopter crash, a search and rescue for 4 missing canoeists and assisting the Air Force’s crash investigation unit in the search for parts of the helicopter scattered around the area.
The exercise demonstrated the skills each individual service provides in an emergency and how all these services must work together in order that a satisfactory outcome is achieved.
These exercises are held every 2 years and it is recommended that as many brigade members as possible attend the next one.