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Well folks, what an introduction to 2006 eh? For a while it all looked
like
a repeat of 2005 but for a brief period of about two or three weeks we
were
all baked, browned and steamed in some topsy-turvy weather patterns that
even had the experts confused. Kariong was involved in operations both
here
in our little neck of the woods to Horsefield Bay and Umina Heights. A
crew
was also sent into battle at Mt White in our Pumper and I can tell you
folks, the power and ferocity of this fire was awesome. I'd like to give
you
a little insight into our New Years.
As you know, the day was already hot by 8 am and the tension was
palpable
amongst the older experienced guys in the station that it wasn't going
to be
an easy day to get through. We busied ourselves by preparing the trucks,
checking our personal gear, doing some general house keeping, trying to
keep
cool and all the while keeping an eye out on the horizon for that
tell-tale
column of smoke.
Then a call comes in requesting brigades to muster at the Kariong
Control
Centre, so it was quickly pack it all up and head up there. By now it
was
about 11 am and the temperature was starting to sky rocket so much so
that
even a cold match would have burst into flame. All the guys were a
little
fidgety knowing what could be ahead and after getting a briefing on what
was
required of us; a cup of coffee was in order. It wasn't long after that,
that things started to happen.
Crews were sent down Woy Woy road and our crew was sent to Somersby to
check
on some smoke from a previous fire and sure enough, there it was.
Luckily,
it was some unburnt stuff surrounded by the previous burn and a couple
of
crews took care of it but it still had the potential to be a problem
particularly in that hot, windy weather. All the while, the radio
chatter
started to intensify because by now the Woy Woy road fire had started to
run
and when I turned to look at Kariong it looked like a volcano had
erupted
sending a plume of smoke high into the sky. We all thought out aloud,
"hope
those guys are ok out there".
Then it was our turn. Orders were to respond to Mt. White so off we went
not
expecting what was going to confront us. From the freeway, like a scene
from
a Dante painting, a wall of fire was rampaging down the hill side toward
the
F3 from the old Pacific highway and I can tell you folks, even the hairs
on
my battle-scared hide stood up. As we pulled into Mt White fire station
the
flames were already up to 25 meters high and it was like standing at the
gates of Hell. Some quick action saw the flames diverted around the
building
but it had already gone and was heading up the road straight toward some
houses and that's where we had to go. By now, both sides of the old road
was
lined with flame 20 meters high and it had to be a quick dash through
this
tunnel of fire to get to those houses. After a few hot minutes which
seemed
like an eternity, we made it up a drive way, positioned the truck and
made
our stand setting up portable pumps and hoses because luckily the
property
had substantial rain water tanks.
The fire roared up toward us in an all consuming storm and it was all
our
crew could do but to aim water at the flames hoping that it would take
edge
off enough so the houses could be defended. Being on the Cat 11 Pumper,
we
don't carry a lot of water, about 1600 litres, and at a pinch it doesn't
last long. After using our water monitor (water cannon) to beat-off a
flame
attack on the truck, our supply was down to the last few hundred litres
and
things were looking a little desperate when a couple of Hornsby tankers
arrived and thankfully that gave us enough to continue the fight.
For a few furious hours' folks, it was intensely hot; choking with smoke
and
it was also a very emotional time as well. It's funny what travels
through
your mind when you're faced with some sort of peril or danger. One of
guys
said to me that he thought of his wife and kids. Another hoped his dad
was
ok and yet another was thinking of his wife, kids, grandkids and the
dog. I
personally hoped that my wife was going to be ok and what a great excuse
for
the mother-in-law, who was visiting at the time, to leave town and go
home.
Like I said, some funny things go through your mind.
Anyway, a part from loosing a couple of cars, we pulled off a great save
and
the houses are still standing. Looking from the hill side above the F3
down
to the RTA Weigh Station, the fire had already crossed the highway and
was
motoring toward the east in a black and orange conflagration and our
thoughts we with the guys out that way.
Folks, Kariong along with every single fire fighter that was on the
ground,
from what ever service, acquitted themselves admirably that day and I'm
loath to name any single person or brigade for special mention because
on
that day, everyone of them were special and very worthy of your praise.
They'll all have a story to tell, not unlike this one, full of heroics,
danger and humor. Next time you raise a glass in toast, think of us on
that
day.
Seeya next time.
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