CFA News
Fire Season 2001
The fire season has started with only one Total Fire Ban
day in Victoria. The temperatures have been high during December with very
gusty winds and with plenty of fuel on the ground, which is still green
in this area.
Other areas are not so lucky with the curing (dryness of the
grass) on the flat country in the 80-90%. This gives way to a very difficult
season. There has been a couple of fires so far with one fire in
Region 16 in the week before Christmas which saw reinforcements been called
for from Region 11 as well as other Regions.
The grass has been cut in Bendoc and the grass has been picked up and
put in a safe place. The contractor had a very difficult time with the
grass (and white tail spiders) as the grass
would not dry out fast enough to be picked up, leaving the Council and
contractor open for criticism.
Low Level Water Alert
There is currently a potential for a low level water alert on the Lombardini
pumps to be accidentally isolated. This can occur once the pump has been
started then the start button is accidentally shut off by inadvertently
pressing it or from being bumped. In this situation the pump will still
run but the low level alert will not operate.
It must be stressed that this alert is only a secondary precaution
and does not replace the critical requirement for all brigades to
monitor water levels at all times via the sight gauge as the primary water
management tool.
Trevor Roche
Chief Officer
Helpful Hints:
To deal with intrusions of hot embers in the roof area,
which can smolder for some time before breaking into a fire, place two
or more inexpensive battery operated smoke detectors in the ceiling. If
smoldering occurs the detectors will raise the alarm, allowing action
to be taken before a fire gets started.
A quick and temporary fix on farms & properties to protect from
radiant heat and spark and ember attack is to use steel posts and
iron sheets. Drive the posts into the ground in pairs at about 1.5 to 2
metres apart (depending on the length of iron) and then place iron sheets
between the posts and fix with wire to stop them from being buffered by
strong winds. These barriers can be used individually or as a lengthy
wall, depending on the area to be protected. Because of the exteme winds
that occur on Red Flag Days, care must be taken to ensure the barrier
is secure.
 |
A simple corrugated iron construction can provide protection for windows. |
Worried about the length of grass on your fence contact the Bendoc Outreach Centre for immediate action.
CFA Firefighters, please advise the Captain/Lieutenant if you
intend being away. Don’t forget your PPE .
Thanks.
Tony Redmond
Group Training Officer
Wishing all a
Happy & Safe New Year
CFA Radio Operator Wanted at Bendoc
A CFA radio operator at Bendoc is needed to fill the gap of Ms. Astrid
Brandenburg who is away looking for work. It is important that this role
is filled as soon as possible because there is always a gap in communications
if there is one operator short.
The CFA operator will need to be available for weekly radio checks
during the fire season, on a Thursday night at 1930 hours or 7.30pm
and then monthly during non fire season. To receive the weather forecasts
every day during fire season and to be advised of Total Fire Ban days as
required.
The operator is a vital link in the chain of communications .Please
contact Bendoc Captain, Doug Cameron or any of the Lieutenants, Eddie Sellers
, Tony Redmond or David Nichol.
This is our brigade let’s look after it.