GFMC: Bush and Forest Fires in Australia

Fires in Australia 

8 January 2004

Hot windy weather causes spate of bushfires

A spike of hot, windy weather has caused a spate of bushfireactivity this afternoon.
More than 500 firefighters are working over several areas in 120 tankers.
They are being supported by about 20 aircraft as well as nearly 50 appliances ofheavy machinery.
No properties are under direct threat at the moment. NSW Rural Fire Service(RFS) expects the windy conditions to abate at about 8pm bringing coolertemperatures, which will assist the situation. The main areas affected by fireare:

Wollondilly
A fire which began in near the property of Condell Park, Wilton, is about 60haand has experienced some spotting activity under strong winds this afternoon.
About 75 firefighters are working in the area. They are being supported by fourhelicopters and a fixed wing aircraft. Spots occurred over Douglas Park Rd,between the Tower Colliery and a Catholic monastery and dropped into ClementsCreek although the fire has not moved into the Cataract River at this stage.Firefighters are focusing on Douglas Park Drive. About 15 tankers are in thearea and they are being supported by aircraft. There are moderate threats tohomes on Douglas Park Drive however, resources are in the area.
Firefighters successfully contained a spot fire at the end of Brooks Point Rd.The aim is to contain the fire to Brooks Point Rd, Wilton Rd, Condell Park Rdand Hume Highway.
People east of the freeway in the Douglas Park Rd area and west of Appin areasked to be aware of fire in the general area, although properties are not underdirect threat at this time. Crews are also working in the Ashwood Rd area southof Clements Creek in the Wilton area.

Warringah/Hornsby
Firefighters from RFS and National Parks and Wildlife Service are working on afire in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park west of Pittwater. The park isclosed. The fire is in bushland and is not affecting residential areas.
Units are working in the Akuna Bay area to ensure structures are protected. Thefire started around McCarrs St and spotted over General St Martins Drive thisafternoon.
Roads to Cottage Point and West Head are closed.
Six other small ignitions along Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd have been confirmed betweenBobbin Head and Mt Colah in the Kalkari area.Nine RFS tankers and NPWS units areattending with two helicopters.
Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd is closed. No properties are threatened at this time.

Hawkesbury
A fire in a caretaker’s cottage at Francisville caused the destruction of thebuilding and a small bushfire 3km north of St Albans on Wolliby Rd. Firefightersin five appliances successfully contained the fire to about 2ha.
Penrith
A fire at Tadmore Rd and Cranebrook Rd Cranebrook has been contained by about 75firefighters. The fire has burnt about 80 ha. Roads have reopened. A backburnaround 25 homes has meant no damage to property or stock.
Aircraft assisted by waterbombing the area to support ground crews from RFS andNSW Fire Brigades.

Wollongong
Firefighters have contained a fire at Cordeaux Rd Mt Kembla.
Fires are also being addressed in Quirindi (contained), Bellingen, Tamworth andLismore
08/01/2004 at 06:09PM

Firefighters contain Goonoo State Forest Fire – 10am update

NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and State Forest firefighters havesuccessfully contained a fire in the Goonoo State Forest, 30km northeast ofDubbo.
The fire has burned 2300ha of State Forest and private property since it beganon Monday morning (January 5). A stolen car torched by vandals is thought tohave started the blaze.
Firefighters have put deep containment lines in place and will be activelypatrolling these to ensure they are maintained in case weather conditions causeconcerns.
There are still 200 firefighters working in the area and they continue to besupported by five fixed wing aircraft and four helicopters.
The risk of the fire breaching the lines is minimal at this stage, although thisis dependent on weather conditions.
Dubbo’s weather is expected to include temperatures of 28 degrees and westsouthwest winds of 40kph gusting to 60kph and relative humidity of 19 percent.
A Total Fire Ban has been declared in the Dubbo area. Total Fire Bans apply toNorth West Slopes, North West Plains, Central West Slopes, Central West Plainsand the Hunter weather districts.
08/01/2004 at 10:19AM

The Current Fire Danger Map can be seen here:
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?cid=28&the_start=1

Source: NSW RuralFire Service

Further Information:

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
/by
WP-Backgrounds Lite by InoPlugs Web Design and Juwelier Schönmann 1010 Wien