Rural Firefighting News

with Tony Belton

While the beginning of September is bringing fine warm days and cool nights, it is definitely time to quickly move into fire preparation mode!

Now is the time to prepare your property, in anticipation of an early fire season.

• If you haven't already, start mowing/ slashing/ brush cutting, around your assets (houses, farm sheds, stables etc). Cut it short and rake the fuel away.

• Reduce the branches and foliage on trees and shrubs that are close to your assets, and clean out your gutters of autumn leaves.

• Make sure under your house is free of any dry loose materials.

• Check your extinguishment measures. (dams, pumps, hose lines and fittings etc)

• Be aware that water is your main extinguishing agent. Do you have enough, or do you need to buy some?

• Finally, make sure your access onto your property, is cleared on both sides to allow for fire trucks to easily negotiate, if necessary.

I can't emphasise enough, how important it is to ensure that your road or driveway is clear of vegetation, on the sides and overhead. It might be fine for your car, but you must consider that it might be a fire appliance that may need to get in, so make allowances for this if you expect our help.

Consider also the fact that our appliances have sophisticated radio equipment on board, with external aerials (up to a metre long) on top, so additional allowance needs to be made. Because communications is so vital to the safety of fire crews, we might be "reluctant" to drive in, if there is risk to our antennas. Allow for passing if your driveway is long. Trying to negotiate a passing vehicle, on a long or windy driveway with a fire bearing down, could be life threatening!

Hazard reduction has been in the news of late, and is often in the news when major fires impact on the community.

Under the Rural Fires Act, all land owners and managers will be accountable to manage the fire risk on their properties and, more particularly, to carry out hazard reduction work that is needed to achieve this.

While fire is an excellent tool in hazard reduction, it may not necessarily be appropriate.

The weather might not be conducive, in that often the windows of opportunity for a safe, cool burn are very narrow. The risk of a hazard reduction becoming a wild fire, are often very real, and considerable planning, and resourcing are required for a successful outcome.

Other alternatives to using fire, for hazard reduction, are grazing, mowing/ slashing, ploughing or tilling the soil, and removing the fuel itself, either mechanically or manually.

Pruning, mowing and raking around your assets (house, sheds etc), can be very effective hazard reduction measures.

If you have a bush block, ensure that you have a perimeter fire break, as well as good access around the property.

If a landowner or manager contemplates a hazard reduction using fire, the onus is on that person, to ensure that they are complying with all aspects of the Rural fires act, and any other Council or environmental conditions and requirements.

Recently, new legislation has been introduced in relation to hazard reduction using fire, and, because there are quite a few things to take into consideration, it is highly recommended that you seek advice by either checking the Rural Fire Service web site at www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au or contacting your local Fire Control Centre listed in the Yellow pages under Rural Fire Service.