We got a call yesterday asking for crews to attend a fire at Wentworth Falls over the weekend. While my back is much better, I have some work to do to make it strong again and won't be back to the RFS for a couple more weeks. So that was me out. Rob was at work so we couldn't confirm his availability so Jamie got the guernsey. We are awaiting Bec, the Duty Officer, to contact us to let us know if one or both boys will be required tomorrow.
Jamie was to be at the shed by 5:15am. At almost 4:30am I was awake and went up to wake him. They went up to Hazelbrook in the PC (Sh*tbox) where they met the crew who had been out in the Cat1 (Big Red Truck) during the night and headed up to Wenty.
First task was working on deepening the containment lines by doing some more backburning. Then they were moved and were doing some blacking out - checking smouldering logs etc to ensure they don't reignite. While doing that they were told the fire was making a run back up the hill towards them so they had to beat a retreat to a containment line with several other brigades which they were tasked not to let the fire cross. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) had helicopters on the go and they managed to slow the fire down enough to eliminate the danger. During this time Jamie and the gang were hanging about doing nothing for 3 hours - "hurry up and wait" is the RFS motto! They were relieved about 5:30pm and sent home.
The NPWS had been doing a hazard reduction and initial thoughts were that the burn had got away from them, but Jamie says it looks like it may have been arson . . .
2 days ago
1 comment:
Daniel also went Saturday, had fun sounds like they did similar to Jamie, some lighting and some blacking out and a bit of waiting around. I went Sunday, we were doing some blacking out but Blaxland found more fire down a gully so we went down (about 4 hose lengths on the end of a live real in depth)and cut a fire trail in front of it, only me, Bec & two guys from Blaxland - only two rake hoes (ours) so we took turns to rake. I don't know what Blaxland were doing trying do, they were blacking out with only a hose!?!Then the NSW Parks helicopter came to the rescue and dumped a few buckets of water on it, we were only about 3 - 4 meters away - very exciting, didn't get wet but got smothered in ash!
Post a Comment