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G'day folks. Well, it's a new year and I sincerely hope you all had a
great
and safe holiday period. It's been a real roller-coaster time for fire
fighters both locally and unfortunately interstate with some horrendous
fires down south. Around here, the weather patterns have been patchy
with no
real long stretches of dry hot weather to speak of thankfully with the
guys
attending some small outbreaks here and there that didn't prove to be
too
much hassle over the Christmas/ New Year period.
However, as I sit and write this column, the smell of smoke is in the
air
and there are guys and gals tackling a fire out Mangrove Mountain way.
Starting on a hot and wilting January Sunday afternoon, a fire spread
quickly at Lower Mangrove when fanned by some erratic north-westerly
winds
which initially threatened property and closed the Wiseman's Ferry road
for
some time. Kariong was responded along with several other brigades to
confront the fire but with conditions the way they were, it was
difficult to
contain eventually necessitating the declaration of a Section 44 or
bushfire
emergency for the area. Locals probably would have noticed the extra
fire
trucks driving around and helicopters zooming about all working on
containing this fire.
From all accounts, the first crew out had a "hot old time" with it,
firstly
going on the "attack" before the winds picked up turning attack into
defence. At one stage, fire threatened property and while the rest of
the
Kariong crew had their hands well and truly full dealing with the
flames,
two veterans of the brigade Mal Smit and Don Simpson, noticed that the
fire
was impacting on a caravan parked on the property they were defending.
With
no time to spare and everything stretched to the limit including nerves,
they charged in with hose in hand preventing the van from being lost to
the
inferno. As Mal said to me later in conversation, "that was a good
save."
And the reply you ask. Indeed it was 'ol mate, indeed it was.
Another issue that came to my attention recently was the definition of a
"total fire ban". A neighbour of mine asked the question on what a total
fire ban meant. This means no lighting of fires in the open at all and
is
issued with a "fire weather warning" which is usually broadcast on TV
and
local radio stations. To contravene this instruction means serious
trouble
and it comes with heavy fines or worse. Folks, what I'm trying to get
over
to you is, use common sense. Even when it's not a TOBAN (total fire ban)
day
and it's hot and windy, don't go out and light up the wood fired "barbie".
Or if you are a rural property owner, don't light the heap that's been
sitting in the bottom paddock for a few weeks. Fire-up the gas BBQ if
you
have to or put off burning that heap to a better, less dangerous day. If
you
need any advice or more info on Total Fire Bans, burning off procedures
or
any other fire related matter, contact your nearest fire station or call
Gosford Fire Control on 4340 2911. They will be more than happy to help.
That's it for now folks. Remember stay safe and be Firewise.
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