Captain’s Message
Another quiet month for us with just the 3 incident calls as detailed below, plus assisting with a resident pile burn and a hazard reduction in Falls Creek.
As we come out of winter and into some warmer weather, more care will need to be taken with your pile burns and small hazard reductions to ensure that they remain under control and don’t spread outside of the burn area. As per our 3rd call below, even a simple pile of sticks can present issues if not managed correctly and monitored. Please ensure that the upcoming weather for the next 2 days is checked before lighting up.
Very pleasing to note that the majority of our crew on one truck at the hazard reduction was female and made up with our two newest fire fighters Hayley and Jemima and mentored by Chloe, who all performed extremely well.
Congratulations to 3 crew members who all received long service medals for 10 years in the RFS at a recent awards ceremony: Greg Muffet, Chloe Riley and Logan Apperley. This is a big long-term commitment by three very active members.
Captain Dusty 0412 865 638
Incident Calls
Just the three fire calls for the month that crews attended:
1st – A small tree had brought down power lines across the road in Wattamolla area after a severe wind storm. The road had been blocked by police and the incident was left with them to monitor and wait for Integral repair crews. The 2 truck crews then proceeded to clear numerous fallen trees and branches off the roads on the way back to the station.
2nd – Call for a tree down in the Upper River area, which was investigated but nothing found.
3rd – Tree alight near Cedar Springs Rd as a result of a resident burning a small pile of sticks too close to the base of the tree, which then spread up into the tree. The crew quickly extinguished the fire.
Woollamia Hazard Reduction
Hazard reduction was only a small area, approx. 2Ha, but gave us and other brigades the opportunity to utilize some of our newest members to gain valuable fire experience in a controlled environment at a cool burn before they get thrown into a bushfire.
Training
Congratulations to Dusty who recently attained the Tree Fall Fireline (TFF) qualification. This is the highest chainsaw qualification and requires a considerable amount of commitment and effort to achieve. It allows an operator to fell dangerous problem trees with significant defects and requires the use of techniques with a high level of complexity, adding the capability of the brigade to provide an invaluable service on the foreground.
Changes to Pile Burning
Permits will be required from the 1st September. There are some changes happening to the issuing of permits, with the issuing of paper permits eventually being phased out. Residents requiring a permit will be encouraged to log onto the RFS website, create a login and request a permit online. Initially a local permit officer will still have to inspect your pile and approve this online, and the permit will be emailed directly to you. The future aim is that once you have completed this process successfully several times with no incidents you will be able to issue your own permits. Pad permits can still be issued if you are unable to complete this process but may take a bit longer to process. Please ensure that you plan ahead and arrange your permits several days before you want to burn.
Process for Pile Burns and Burning Off
As the Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP) has begun the following tasks are mandatory prior to lighting up:
- Obtain a Fire Permit from a local Fire Permit Officer via:
- Phone: Shoalhaven FCC 02 4424 4424 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday
- Email: Shoalhaven FCC Shoal.Haven@rfs.nsw.gov.au or the brigade kangaroovalleyrfb@gmail.com
- You must notify the NSW RFS (not the local brigade) at least 24 hours before you light the fire and provide the issued fire permit number. Notification methods include:
- Online: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify or via the QR code
- Phone: Shoalhaven FCC 02 4424 4424 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday
- Email: Shoalhaven FCC Shoal.Haven@rfs.nsw.gov.au
- You must advise your immediate neighbours at least 24 hours before you light the fire. Immediate neighbours include those where you are separated by a road or water course.
- You must adhere to all the conditions listed on the fire permit including at least one responsible person must be present on site until the pile is extinguished.
- Check for any messages from Shoalhaven Fire Control Centre and the NSW RFS Fire Danger Ratings webpages as fire permits may be suspended if weather conditions dictate.
- Check the upcoming weather conditions as the pile may continue to smoulder for days.
- If you believe that you cannot safely control the fire once it has been lit, dial 000 immediately.
Consider notifying your local WhatsApp Neighbourhood Group and ask the coordinator to share any plans with other group coordinators if expected weather conditions mean smoke is likely to travel some distance. Smoke does not respect property boundaries.
Where the brigade is assisting local community members with burns, the responsibility for notifications remains with the property owner, but the brigade will attempt to post Facebook updates about planned brigade activities if there is a significant volume of smoke expected. Changing weather conditions may mean brigade updates are provided with short notice.
If you have concerns about burning off yourself, please contact the local brigade or Shoalhaven Fire Control and we can possibly assist you with your pile burn or check your site for you.
Compiled by Tracey Basman
