GFMC: Bush and Forest Fires in Australia
10 January 2004
Ku-ring-gai Chase fire within containment lines 5.00pm
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers as well as staff from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) continue to monitor the fire burning in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park that has so far burnt over 1400ha.
Backburning operations at Duckhole Valley have been completed and the containment lines are working well. Smoke will continue to issue from the fireground but all fires are well behind containment lines.
Trail work will continuing on the Waratah track to Coal and Candle Creek and backburning operations will continue in this region overnight.
NSWFB crews, most NPWS crews and a large number of RFS Volunteers will be stood down tonight with about 50 firefighters in 10 tankers, monitoring the fire.
Aerial operations will continue tomorrow, although a number of aircraft and the Erickson Air-Crane have been stood down.
Residents around the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Pittwater foreshore, Church Point, Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest will experience heavy smoke conditions and should remain vigilant for any embers landing around properties. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is closed until further notice as a result of bushfires in the area.
All motorists are asked to drive carefully because of the possibility of smoke and emergency vehicles on nearby roads.
Ku-rin-gai chase fire containment work continues 11.00am
NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers continue to work on the fire in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park that has so far burnt over 800ha.
Backburning operations at Duckhole Valley will be completed within the next two hours. Aerial ignition operations are currently being completed in the remaining 40ha area.
Trail work is continuing on the Waratah track to Coal and Candle Creek although backburning work is not expected to take place in this area until wind conditions improve.
Crew strengths have increased to over 300 firefighters from NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire Brigades and National Parks and Wildlife Service, in about 60 tankers.
Aerial operations are continuing this morning with eight aircraft assisting firefighters with spot fire containment. The Erickson aircrane is remaining on standby and will be deployed if required.Fire activity is expected to increase this afternoon as Northeast winds increase.
Residents around the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Pittwater foreshore, Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest should remain vigilant, although the fire is not threatening these areas at this stage.Fire investigation into the cause of the blaze continues. RFS investigators will provide police with evidence and information.Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is closed until further notice as a result of bushfires in the area.
Access to Cottage Point, and access to Church Point via Terry Hills, is restricted to residents only. Access to Ku-ring-gai Chase Road and Bobbin Head Road is restricted to employees of Halvorsen Boats only until the road reopens.
All motorists are asked to drive carefully because of the possibility of smoke and emergency vehicles on nearby roads. Boaters are also asked to stay clear of the areas around McCarrs Creek and south-westernPittwater.
Ku-ring-gai Chase – Wilton Fire Updates, 10/01/2004 at 08:12AM
The 200 firefighters working in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park had a busy night doing backburns at Duckhole Valley and trail work at Waratah Track, although the fire itself caused little problems during the evening. High humidity during the night meant the fire was less active, giving firefighters the opportunity to do containment work. The fire is not contained at this stage and has burned between 800 and 900ha.
Crew strengths will increase to over 300 firefighters from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Fire Brigades in about 60 tankers supported by seven aircraft.
Their main task will be to continue containment work before northeast winds strengthen in the afternoon. Incendiary work will continue north of McCarrs Ck at Church point and Duckhole Valley between Terrey Hills and the Baha’i Temple.
Crews will also continue trail work at Waratah Track to Coal and Candle Ck to limit the northerly spread of the fire along West Head.
Residents around the park can expect fire activity to increase during the afternoon. Pittwater foreshore communities and residents of Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest should remain vigilant, although the fire is not threatening these areas at this time.
Fire investigation into the cause of the blaze continues. RFS investigators will provide police with evidence and information.
The fire flared yesterday afternoon causing spotting activity and breaches of containments lines, over McCarrs Ck Rd. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is closed until further notice as a result of bushfires in the area.
Road closures in the area include:
· McCarrs Creek Road between Church Point and Terry Hills
· West Head Road
· Liberator General San Martin Drive
· Ku-ring-gai Chase Road between Mt Colah and Bobbin Head, expected to open later today
· Bobbin Head Road between North Turramurra and Bobbin Head, expected to open later today
Access to Cottage Point, and access to Church Point via Terry Hills, are restricted to residents only. Access to Ku-ring-gai Chase Road and Bobbin Head Road are restricted to employees of Halvorsen Boats only until the road reopens.
All motorists are asked to drive carefully because of the possibility of smoke and emergency vehicles on nearby roads. Boaters are also asked to stay clear of the areas around McCarrs Creek and south-western Pittwater.
The fire just north of Wilton in Wollondilly Shire remained within containment lines overnight.
Sixty firefighters were actively patrolling the fire overnight. Fire activity was minimal with some hot spots in gullies flaring briefly.
Over 125 firefighters in 30 units will be assigned to the fire today and fire behaviour is expected to increase with afternoon winds and temperature, however, containment lines are expected to hold.
The fire has spread very over the past 72 hours. Difficult afternoon winds caused some spotting activity around Broughton Rd and Wilton Rd, Wilton, yesterday ,however, crews are successfully working with residents to ensure they are protected. The fire is generally in inaccessible gullies.
Firefighters and aircraft have also had great success with an area of Allens Creek near the F5 freeway where they fire was only smouldering yesterday. A Remote Area Firefighting Team from Sydney Catchment Authority was working in the area where the F5 crosses Allens Creek.
The fire has burned 550ha after starting near the Condell Park property on Thursday.
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:
-
Regional Australasia Wildland Fire Network
https://gfmc.online/GlobalNetworks/Australasia/Australasia.html -
CSIRO Sentinel Fire Mapping
http://www.sentinel.csiro.au/
