Fire Seaon 2009-10
Aug. 19th, 2009 08:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Well, they have released some info for the coming fire season and unfort it's not terribly good news. This years rainfall has been lower than last year. Runoff has been less and evaportaion has been highter than average. This means the intrinstic moisture content of, well, EVERYthing is lower, esp trees and grass. Which is what burns the most fierce. It's not just long grass that burns, folks, when you have a wildfire even short grass privides a fuel, albeit a lesser one. We are expecting the fire season to start early. Fire crews have been training over wnter but not TOO hard as we want to be well rested. I go SETG weekend after next for some very intense hot training, that place has been frantic with sessions; everyone is trying to get at LEAST one hot session under their belt, esp for FF's like me who have been in less than 5 years.
So what does this mean for those of us living in VIC? Well, we in the suburbs face different challenges but in the end it comes down to the same thing. KNOW your fire escape plan. Practice it with your family. REMEMBER: WINDOWS CAN BE SMASHED! You guys have NO idea how many ppl perish or get hurt in fires stuck in a room that had a window they could have smashed and crawled out of. 2nd; take 30mins to walk around your house with your eyes closed and find the windows and doors. I know it sounds silly but in smoke you WILL panic, the more confident you are, the better should you ever need it. Clean the vents and dust catchers throughout your house. Heater too. Air con unit. Check the wiring on EVERYTHING and FIX IT.
INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A SERIES OF WORKING SMOKE ALARMS WITHIN YOUR HOME! I can't believe how many people don't have them. Have one in or just outside the door of EACH bedroom, in the kitchen and in hallways. CHANGE THE BATTERY WHEN YOU CHANGE THE CLOCKS! Head down to your local shops and grab a $10 fire extinguisher and keep it in the kitchen, KNOW where it is and KNOW how to use it. Your local brigade will be MORE than happy to show you if you want.
For outside: keep your garden tidy. Don't allow build up of fallen branches, long grass and weeds, get your gutters cleaned or grab a ladder and do it yourself with someone footing the ladder for you. Those of you who have hay etc for your horses, keep it someplace where should it combust, and trust me they combust like champions, it won't spread to things like trees or piles of rubbish. Once a hayshed starts up, there is little we can do barr contain the fire to the one area. You wouldn't want to use the hay we soak with water from our trucks anyway.
If you hear that a fire is near your area, keep ABC radio on and LISTEN. The CFA webpage also has a list they maintain of current events. It's not always 100% up to date, sometimes there is a few mins delay, but if you have acces to it, keep the page up and refresh it often. If you are given the option of going or staying, FFS go EARLY. Rd's WILL be busy and there WILL be smoke to deal with which will reduce your vision, and since you will be stressed already you will need all the time and calmness you can muster.
I don't care what ANYone says: there is NO place for children under 16-17 at a fire unless it's heading OUT. Kids at that age do NOT process things like adults do. If they panic, they can hide, run away, get hurt. Send minors away with your pets and photos to someplace nowhere in the line of fire. They can be little heroes when they grow up and make their own choices.
If you have horses, float them out EARLY. Give yourself plenty of time to load them up and head out; horses will freak at the smell of smoke, esp those caught in this past summers fires. MADDY, I don't mean to scare you but if you guys do for whatever reason need to evac, do it early,more than likely your horses will remember Black Saturday and may become harder to handle than normal.
Be vigilant. You see something sus, you keep watching and get ready to call 000. Note any rego's of sus cars, that is vital to fire-bug chasing. Most vital piece of info we need is LOCATION. I know that sounds odd but you guys would be amazed how many people don't know where they are. I'm not saying be paranoid and know at all times, I'm saying be aware of at least what street you are on, and if it's a large/long one, have a good idea of either street numbers, suburb and/or better yet, cross street. Without a location, we can not even get anyone rolling. Telling us you are McDonalds in the city isn't going to help matters.... :P Listen to what the 000/911 call taker is asking you and answer in a modulated voice. I assure you the second you give a location and a VERY quick desc of what's happening, crews are dispatched, the further info you are giving is up-dating fire crews as they roll. We ARE on the way to you.
NEVER try to fight a grass fire by yourself unless it's tiny! Even then, think twice. If you feel you MUST do something (which you don't, fire crews generally will arrive on site within 4 mins or less) attack the fire from the SIDE, NOT standing downwind of it, it shouldn't be heading towards you! I don't care how small it looks, you never stand downwind of it. If you have water or an extinguisher, aim it at the BOTTOM of the fire at ground level, not top, not middle, GROUND. Throwing sand at the base is excellent too if you have it. Trying to smother it by beating it with cloth can work but I wouldn't count on it, prob spread it more than extinguish it. Best to WAIT for the fire crews. You can help by locating your nearest hydrant, if you want.
When fire crews arrive, get out of their way. They are not being rude: they want to put the fire out. Last thing they want is for you to get hurt. Fire fighting gear is heavy, dangerous and we move FASTER than you will. Best to stand WELL back, out of the line of fire. Last year in Narre Warren we had Elvis the fire fighter chopper drawing water from a lake, some people were so amazed to see him there that they scuttled in closer to get photos etc. The down-draft from Elvis is immense and they were putting themselves at huge risk. Emergency crews were so stretched they couldn't spare anyone to tell them to rack off. If the fire danger wasn't so grave to the houses there the chopper would have had to leave to go find water elsewhere, putting FF's in danger with lack of air support. Please THINK before you fling the camera out and snap away - 99% of the time we don't care at all, but if you put yourself or us in danger.....that's not on. Make yourself known to the FF in the RED helmet or any police on site if you have information or you are the 000/911 caller but only when it is safe to do so. If the situtaion is dangerous i.e large fire spreading, LEAVE. You can always report in to the cop shop or tell the operator you are moving away from the location for safety, they will grab your details anyway..
What it all comes down to is using your common sense. Keep appliance wires in good condition, keep vents clear and dust free. Keep your garden rubbish free. KNOW your fire plan, practice it, remember it. HAVE SMOKE ALARMS AND MAINTAIN THEM!!!!!!! If you need to leave, do it sooner rather than later. Be aware of your surroundings and where you are. Keep calm, stay safe. Stay out of FF's way no matter how good the photo op! :P
We're bracing ourselves. And praying it's not like it was last year. Support your local brigade, folks!
So what does this mean for those of us living in VIC? Well, we in the suburbs face different challenges but in the end it comes down to the same thing. KNOW your fire escape plan. Practice it with your family. REMEMBER: WINDOWS CAN BE SMASHED! You guys have NO idea how many ppl perish or get hurt in fires stuck in a room that had a window they could have smashed and crawled out of. 2nd; take 30mins to walk around your house with your eyes closed and find the windows and doors. I know it sounds silly but in smoke you WILL panic, the more confident you are, the better should you ever need it. Clean the vents and dust catchers throughout your house. Heater too. Air con unit. Check the wiring on EVERYTHING and FIX IT.
INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A SERIES OF WORKING SMOKE ALARMS WITHIN YOUR HOME! I can't believe how many people don't have them. Have one in or just outside the door of EACH bedroom, in the kitchen and in hallways. CHANGE THE BATTERY WHEN YOU CHANGE THE CLOCKS! Head down to your local shops and grab a $10 fire extinguisher and keep it in the kitchen, KNOW where it is and KNOW how to use it. Your local brigade will be MORE than happy to show you if you want.
For outside: keep your garden tidy. Don't allow build up of fallen branches, long grass and weeds, get your gutters cleaned or grab a ladder and do it yourself with someone footing the ladder for you. Those of you who have hay etc for your horses, keep it someplace where should it combust, and trust me they combust like champions, it won't spread to things like trees or piles of rubbish. Once a hayshed starts up, there is little we can do barr contain the fire to the one area. You wouldn't want to use the hay we soak with water from our trucks anyway.
If you hear that a fire is near your area, keep ABC radio on and LISTEN. The CFA webpage also has a list they maintain of current events. It's not always 100% up to date, sometimes there is a few mins delay, but if you have acces to it, keep the page up and refresh it often. If you are given the option of going or staying, FFS go EARLY. Rd's WILL be busy and there WILL be smoke to deal with which will reduce your vision, and since you will be stressed already you will need all the time and calmness you can muster.
I don't care what ANYone says: there is NO place for children under 16-17 at a fire unless it's heading OUT. Kids at that age do NOT process things like adults do. If they panic, they can hide, run away, get hurt. Send minors away with your pets and photos to someplace nowhere in the line of fire. They can be little heroes when they grow up and make their own choices.
If you have horses, float them out EARLY. Give yourself plenty of time to load them up and head out; horses will freak at the smell of smoke, esp those caught in this past summers fires. MADDY, I don't mean to scare you but if you guys do for whatever reason need to evac, do it early,more than likely your horses will remember Black Saturday and may become harder to handle than normal.
Be vigilant. You see something sus, you keep watching and get ready to call 000. Note any rego's of sus cars, that is vital to fire-bug chasing. Most vital piece of info we need is LOCATION. I know that sounds odd but you guys would be amazed how many people don't know where they are. I'm not saying be paranoid and know at all times, I'm saying be aware of at least what street you are on, and if it's a large/long one, have a good idea of either street numbers, suburb and/or better yet, cross street. Without a location, we can not even get anyone rolling. Telling us you are McDonalds in the city isn't going to help matters.... :P Listen to what the 000/911 call taker is asking you and answer in a modulated voice. I assure you the second you give a location and a VERY quick desc of what's happening, crews are dispatched, the further info you are giving is up-dating fire crews as they roll. We ARE on the way to you.
NEVER try to fight a grass fire by yourself unless it's tiny! Even then, think twice. If you feel you MUST do something (which you don't, fire crews generally will arrive on site within 4 mins or less) attack the fire from the SIDE, NOT standing downwind of it, it shouldn't be heading towards you! I don't care how small it looks, you never stand downwind of it. If you have water or an extinguisher, aim it at the BOTTOM of the fire at ground level, not top, not middle, GROUND. Throwing sand at the base is excellent too if you have it. Trying to smother it by beating it with cloth can work but I wouldn't count on it, prob spread it more than extinguish it. Best to WAIT for the fire crews. You can help by locating your nearest hydrant, if you want.
When fire crews arrive, get out of their way. They are not being rude: they want to put the fire out. Last thing they want is for you to get hurt. Fire fighting gear is heavy, dangerous and we move FASTER than you will. Best to stand WELL back, out of the line of fire. Last year in Narre Warren we had Elvis the fire fighter chopper drawing water from a lake, some people were so amazed to see him there that they scuttled in closer to get photos etc. The down-draft from Elvis is immense and they were putting themselves at huge risk. Emergency crews were so stretched they couldn't spare anyone to tell them to rack off. If the fire danger wasn't so grave to the houses there the chopper would have had to leave to go find water elsewhere, putting FF's in danger with lack of air support. Please THINK before you fling the camera out and snap away - 99% of the time we don't care at all, but if you put yourself or us in danger.....that's not on. Make yourself known to the FF in the RED helmet or any police on site if you have information or you are the 000/911 caller but only when it is safe to do so. If the situtaion is dangerous i.e large fire spreading, LEAVE. You can always report in to the cop shop or tell the operator you are moving away from the location for safety, they will grab your details anyway..
What it all comes down to is using your common sense. Keep appliance wires in good condition, keep vents clear and dust free. Keep your garden rubbish free. KNOW your fire plan, practice it, remember it. HAVE SMOKE ALARMS AND MAINTAIN THEM!!!!!!! If you need to leave, do it sooner rather than later. Be aware of your surroundings and where you are. Keep calm, stay safe. Stay out of FF's way no matter how good the photo op! :P
We're bracing ourselves. And praying it's not like it was last year. Support your local brigade, folks!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-19 10:34 pm (UTC)