GFMC: Bush and Forest Fires in Australia
Bush and Forest Fires in Australia
3 December 2002
Australia´s fire seasons
Actual Fire Situation Maps
An actual fire situation map in NSWcan be found directly at:
http://www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au/Combined%20Fires%2022112002.pdf
An actual fire situation map inVictoria can be found directly at:
http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/fires/updates/report/index.htm
Total Fire Bans Tuesday, 3 December 2002
The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service has declared a Total Fire Ban in the following Weather Forecast Districts:North West Plains, Central Western Plains, Central West Slopes, Riverina, Upper Western, Lower Western,Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes.
The weather forecast for this area is very high temperature, low humidity and moderate to strong winds. These conditions are conducive to fire activity and the community is urged to take particular care. Fire danger in this area will be extreme or approaching extreme.
The Total Fire Ban will become effective for the 24 hours from MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, Monday, December 02, 2002 until MIDNIGHT Tuesday, 03 December 2002.
During a Total Fire Ban no fire of any kind may be lit in the open. This includes incinerators and barbecues which burn solid fuel, e.g. wood or charcoal. You may use a gas or electric barbecue, but only if
· It is on residential property within 20m of the house or dwelling;
· It is under the direct control of a responsible adult;
· The ground around the barbecue is cleared for 3m of all material which could burn;
· You have a continuous supply of running water.
A map identifying the boundaries of weather districts can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology web site at http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/dist_map.shtml. Members of the public can phone 1 800 654 443 or their local NSW Rural Fire Service Fire Control Centre for more information.
THIS TOTAL FIRE BAN INFORMATION SHOULD BE CARRIED AS PART OF ALL WEATHER FORECAST BROADCASTS IN THE LEAD UP TO AND DURING THE TOTAL FIRE BAN PERIOD.
The Rural Fires Act 1997 – Section 99 (2) states: “As soon as practicable after making a direction under this section, the Minister is
(a) to cause notice of the direction to be broadcast by a television or radio station transmitting to the part or parts of the State concerned and in a newspaper circulating in those parts”
FOR MEDIA ONLY: For more information or interviews regarding fire danger & fire safety:
Duty Media Officer 02 9898 1855
Source: NSWRural Fire Service
Statewide Fire Update 2 December 2002of NSW
More than 400 firefighters are working on 36 fires that are affecting 58, 489 hectares across NSW.
Firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), State Forests (SF), NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) will be working on these fires today.
Rain and mild weather over the weekend has significantly assisted firefighters across the State. Weather conditions today are expected to be hot dry in the western parts of the State and milder on the coast. Total Fire Bans have been declared today for the Lower Western, Upper Western, North West Plains and Riverina weather districts. The fires of most concern are in the Eurobodalla area and the Touga fire in the Shoalhaven area.
Eurobodalla
Several fires, west and south west of Moruya ranging from Tinpot in the south to the Buckenboura Valley in the west, were ignited 19 November from lightning strikes. Only two of these fires are not at patrol status.
The Halfway fire, 9km southwest of Deua River, has burned 1,200 hectares and is contained. Yesterday crews worked on mopping up hotspots over weekend instead of putting in a backburn, due to rain on the fireground. Today crews will put in a backburn along the southern and western containment lines. The Winbenby fire, in the middle of the Deua National Park, has burned 1,248 hectares and is going in previously burned fireground.
Shoalhaven Touga fire
The Touga fire, west of Nowra, has burned 50,810 hectares of Morton National Park since it was ignited on 8 November 2002 and is being controlled. Rainfall over the weekend was has put out the running edge of the fire but has left some hotspots. Yesterday a forward looking infrared scan was conducted to locate hotspots. The scan enabled crews to directly attack hotspots and this will continue today with aircraft waterbombing these areas.
Cessnock
The Blaxlands Arm fire, south west of Laguna, has burned 1,180 hectares since it started on 24 November and is being controlled. Yesterday crews worked on directly attacking the fire edge and mop up and patrol and this will continue today.
Gosford
The Wellums Creek fire, in the Yengo National Park, 8km west-southwest of Mangrove Creek Dam, has burned 4,000 hectares since it started on 24 November and is being controlled. Crews yesterday carried out a forward looking infrared scan of the fire to determine hotspots. Today crews will directly attack these hotspots and aircraft will waterbomb these areas.
Source: NSW Rural FireService
Fire Weather Forecast for the Pacific Region
Fire Weather Index for the
Pacific Region for tomorrow.
(Source: ECPCFire Weather Index Forecast)
For more information on Australia see the IFFN country notes and have a look at the Australian and New Zealand links.
For background Information see also: Recent Media Highlights on Fire, Policies, and Politics
