Major fires 2006/07

bomber · Post by **bomber** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:27 pm

i guess they wanted them to black out inside the quarry. big effort to black that all out.

yes good when its not your area, however they did leg it just after you guys did

chrissss · Post by **chrissss** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:43 pm

bomber wrote:Yes would have heard you. I was always on the 2nd light tanker radio doing constant hop overs. Even had a good one just after you guys left. Was desperate for tankers but most had left.

Suprised that you guys arent still there. We got back at 6 and they were trying to call us back there at 8.30. hard to get up though after a long shift on the ground

wer u with that chick i talked to ya and her when u guys first arrived and we wer extinguishing that hop over?

good fire

they had no idea about channel 36 till i told em.

chris

Fastlane · Post by **Fastlane** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:26 pm

Got some more info so made a correction to my earlier post about the Bush Fire Emergency Period.

Of note, the Chief Operations Officer of FESA or his delegate has been appointed by the minister under the act to take charge of all fire fighting operations within the area covered by the emergency declaration, under Section 21(3).

chrissss · Post by **chrissss** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:03 pm

in layman terms please fastlane?

chris

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:45 pm

Big fire @ the Porongorup Range national park. 6 water bombers (3 ex Albany, 3 ex Manjimup) and two spotter planes involved plus numerous other appliances. In the mix were two shifts from Mount Barker VF&RS (2.4 UT and LT), one shift of Albany VF&RS (including 2 career firies using their VFRS LT and the Albany CFRS 2.4 UT), units from Porongorup, Middle Ward, Kendenup and Narrikup (all from Plantagenet Shire), Kalgan, Bornholm (?) and one other BFS from Albany Shire, ITC and Great Southern Plantations (tree companies), Dept of Environment & Conservation (Albany) crews and probably many more I missed. Many farmers with slip on units, trailers and so on were there also. I saw the smoke from between Tambellup and Cranbrook (~50km away) and initially thought it was in the Stirling Range Nat. Park. Getting past the Stirlings, I could see it was where it was. My thoughts at the moment of seeing the smoke was "Oooh... that's not good!"

Main action on BFS channel 31 repeater (plus 29 and 34?), and on channel 96 simplex.

I have pics and some video footage of water bombers - will post soon.

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:26 am

Pics and video as promised... Not great quality but hey.... I'm no expert!

From about 5-10km north of Mount Barker.

From Porongorup Road in Mount Barker.

Somewhere nearer to the fire... probably about 15km east of Mount Barker on Porongorup Road.

One of the many locals helping out.

Fire in the thick bush south of the Porongorups

Great Southern Plantations 4.4 #3 and an unnamed ute with a slip-on unit.

Video of one of the water bombers doing a run is available here.

chrissss · Post by **chrissss** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:52 pm

good stuff wes

chris

firefly.000 · Post by **firefly.000** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:27 pm

WPXZBP wrote:Pics and video as promised... Not great quality but hey.... I'm no expert!.

Nice pics. If you are still using those particle masks such as on the dash of the vehicle in the last pic, get the new ones. You can now order a P2 filter which also takes out the gases aswell as the particles. Fits on the same mask so no hassle, they are 100% better.

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:34 pm

Thanks for the info firefly. I'll let the Captain know.

Here's more from today. I missed out on the "excitement" as I had to work but was there after that. Basically we were blacking out the ignition point.

DEC provided food - rolls (beef, ham) in the arvo and around dinner time either steak or chicken and mash and veges or salad and rolls for the vegetarians. Plenty of water, softdrinks and coffee were available. I even heard one of the Duke's Vineyards owners say (jokingly?) that she could even open one of their bottles.

Saw the ute that was owned by the guy who was burnt. It was looking very forlorn... burnt out in one of the areas we were in.

The guy has burns to feet and arms. At least he's in RPH - can't think of a better place for his treatment.

I did hear tonight that 2 houses have been lost and also at least 2 vineyards (Ironbark and Millinup?) were destroyed.

Power lines have been downed so power has been cut in areas and thus phones have been affected too.

Saw or heard Kojaneerup 4.4 (BFS); King River 3(?).4 (BFS); Elleker 2.4 (BFS); Kalgan 3.4 (BFS); Donnelly 45, 33, and 43, Narrogin 42, Albany 20 and 40 (DEC/CALM)

Pics are in the pics forum.

JG-103 · Post by **JG-103** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:17 pm

DEC def know how to feed us

better than fesa

Post by **Always RX** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:15 pm

Great pics yet again Wes.... and i just love how you guys are surrounded by burning bush but are still thinking bout ya guts!
Keep it up fellas , its a great read.

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:27 pm

Well with a previous incident we didn't get a feed for a long long time. A hungry firefighter is a less safe firefighter.

Fastlane · Post by **Fastlane** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:18 pm

WPXZBP wrote:Well with a previous incident we didn't get a feed for a long long time. A hungry firefighter is a less safe firefighter.

Yet they insist on feeding us sausages in bread and toasted ham/cheese sandwiches nearly every time..

.. championing healthy living for sure!

chrissss · Post by **chrissss** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:04 pm

haha lucky ur gettin that!

down our way if we assist the frs they only usually get level 2 refreshments barely level 3!

chris

Markmywords · Post by **Markmywords** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:59 pm

Whats the difference in level of refreshments ??? is it the higher the level the more you get ?