MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tjupurula on June 23, 2012, 09:12:23 AM
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Hi Swaggers
We have had some travellers come through recently, some have been "annoyed" at the amount of fires and burnt areas. Around this area the spinifex, in many places, is reaching 1.5 - 2 metres, and later in the year, when it gets hot, this could be bad. There are some controlled burns at the moment, and the Rangers are also using this to get in their "fire fighting" practice, putting in fire breaks and stopping the fires before they come in.
Wild and raging bushfires are being prevented this way, so people need to accept that it is simply something that has to be done. The actual Tanami Track and the Canning Stock Route are not being affected. The area between Yagga Yagga and Lake Mackay has been partially done, and I believe Kiwirrkurra will be doing some from their end towards Lake Mackay soon.
Regards
Tjupurula
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That spinifex goes off well when it catches . Sat & watched a burn for 4 nights off in the distance as it burned across Nicholson Station many years ago, very impressive sight . It was to far out to be able to do anything about it so let it rip . :cheers:
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It helps with some of the native trees as well Speewa, as the seeds are cracked with the heat, and new trees are able to start growing.
Tjupurula
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I actually love watching the regrowth, especially as you drive through the ranges out past Fitzroy. The intense black and then the new bright green backed up by intense red - absolute magic.
I think if they understood what it's like at the end of the dry when they are all long gone how devastating these fire can be with 50knot westerly's and also just how quick it will all be the same again then maybe they would be a bit more reserved.
And lets not forget that traditional owners do like a some cooked Goanna and a little fire never hurt anyone flush a few out. Had a pretty good feed out at ringer Soak last week ;D
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Keep up the good work!
We noticed touring NT recently that they do a lot of burnoffs especially on the side of the road that just trickle through the under growth this was good to see but they have a bigger window of opportunity to this compared to the south eastern states.
We got a call to a grassfire the other night at midnight I thought it must of been april fools day when I read the pager couldn't believe my eyes. The temp was only 6 degrees and rather heavy dew but when we got there sure enough a small fire that had trickled thru the grass, the average height of the grass was 2-2 1/2 metres high and thick as! I had trouble walking through it even the skippy we disturbed had trouble hoping thru it so it's definately going to be interesting to say the least when summer does finally arrive.
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Hi Stormchaser
It surprises me that anyone would allow grass to get to that height. As you obviously understand, without properly timed burn offs, real problems can happen, and unfortunately sometimes do. You can have those temperatures though.
Regards
Tjupurula
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Some people just don't get it! They must be from the big smoke, lol
Wayne
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The complainers obliviously don't have to deal or live the threat of serious fire. After living in both Central Aus (south of Alice) and Victoria through some serious fires and having to fight them, you soon learn the value of fuel reduction burns. If the fuel load isn't there, the fire is easier to control and safer to be around
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I lived for years in the Territory and spent almost a month chasing a fire all over Kakadu because they had been testing not burning; needless to say it was a poor outcome of a stupid trial. Never let the grass get to massive levels.
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Good to see that Swaggers are an intelligent bunch who can appreciate the need to control unrequired growth. I know a few people are planning to travel next year through the CSR and the Tanami, and they will see heaps of regrowth, as that area will be done later in the year. The spinifex must have been worse than thought, as we could see the glow from over 50 km's away, a lovely orange glow against a black night sky, and no, I did not take photo's.
Regards
Tjupurula
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We lived in Kununurra for a year and I could not believe the amount of tourist who wrote into the "Kimberly Echo" each week complaining about the burn offs going on. And no matter how often the "locals" explained why it was being done, they just couldnt get it.
And maybe southerners could learn abit under growth control during the winter to stop wild fires during thw summer.
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We lived in Kununurra for a year and I could not believe the amount of tourist who wrote into the "Kimberly Echo" each week complaining about the burn offs going on. And no matter how often the "locals" explained why it was being done, they just couldnt get it.
And maybe southerners could learn abit under growth control during the winter to stop wild fires during thw summer.
Oh well, you'll be glad to know that has not changed. There were a couple of complaints recently in the Echo, and in the Halls Creek herald, so I guess people think they are just being inconvenienced. It is amazing that people (in WA) do not remember that not all that long ago some truck drivers perished, I think in the Goldfields, trapped by a wild fire.
When you see flames getting pushed by a wind, and then spreading everywhere, one is glad now to see burn offs and controlled burning.
Tjupurula
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My goodness it gets better and better. People wanting notices that a burn off is happening....Should I suggest they look at the smoke on the horizon and the red glow, and fire in the distance ? Maybe not, that would make too much sense.
The best part is "people's lives could be threatened"....UMMM, don't drive into the direct path of flames.....some people ??? ??? ???
Tjupurula
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I appreciate the need to give advanced notice of controlled burns - sucks to come home and find ash all over your washing and smoke all through your work clothes. That said, general advertising (paper, radio, etc) is fine - no need for a personal house visit!
I can't agree more with the need for controlled burns. They've become a bit of a toxic thing in QLD lately. Last weekend we sat on a friend's front lawn and watched a deliberately lit bushfire ravage the hillside across the road. That wasnt fun for a while. The last time there was a controlled burn there was 3-odd yrs ago, when these guys moved in. The next morning our house and cars were blanketed in ash. I can't even begin to imagine how terrible the fires in VIC had been.
As you say Tjupurula, when you see a fire caught by the wind, any sensible person gets pretty scared pretty quick.
Also, having had a bushfire burn right up across half my parent's back lawn, it's a scary thing to deal with personally. You'd do anything at that point that meant it might not be so bad. Controlled burns, to me, are one of the best defences.
free beers for any rural firies at my place, those guys and girls are made of sterner stuff than most.
Cheers!
Matto :)
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Hi Matto
If we were anywhere near any kind of developed area, it would be polite of course to let people know of a controlled burn off. If you check on the map where I live, geographically I am about half way between Broome and Alice Spings, Mulan is near Lake Gregory in WA, and the only "developed" areas around here are the various Aboriginal communities. Everyone basically knows when the burn offs will happen, and are always glad when they do. It gives people a chance to go out and get a few lizards and snakes (me included).
There are only a couple of cattle stations other than the communities, they are always advised that the burn offs will be occurring, and it is generally after mustering has been done, so they have already graded their fence lines, hence have a fairly adequate fire break.
Regards
Tjupurula
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Nothing wrong with that then!
Forgot just how far out you live...
Cheers!
Matto :)
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free beers for any rural firies at my place, those guys and girls are made of sterner stuff than most.
Cheers!
Matto :)
I be around soon :cheers:
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Hey Matto, I am not a Rural Firey, but I have been there on many, many occasions with a shovel and wet sack through dirt and slapping the daylights out of smaller fires....don't know if that counts. I am too far away, so I may have to send Speewa for those free beers.
Tjupurula
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Much prefer a controlled burn to an uncontrolled one. ;D Wish they did it a bit more often across the entire country. May not have had such unfortunate events down south ... maybe ... perhaps.
Kit_e
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Much prefer a controlled burn to an uncontrolled one. ;D Wish they did it a bit more often across the entire country. May not have had such unfortunate events down south ... maybe ... perhaps.
Kit_e
Hi Kit_e
Given that people here are complaining, I can imagine the whinging that would go in around towns and cities if cointrolled burn offs happen, I know CALM (Conservation and Land Management) did a couple last year and lost control of one. We always put a four grader width between sections to make sure there is no loss of control, it allowa accurate targetting of areas.
Regards
Tjupurula
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We always put a four grader width between sections to make sure there is no loss of control, it allowa accurate targetting of areas.
Regards
Tjupurula
We had an out of control grass fire on the NT/SA (Pit lands) jump a 10 cut grader break (approx 30 mtrs) like it wasn't there
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I remember being at a burn off at Engadine in the 90's and having a local complaining about the "****ing" bush and wanted the whole place removed. ??? ??? He was none too pleased when I told him to submit the paperwork for his relocation plan of the Royal National Park he was working on...
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We had an out of control grass fire on the NT/SA (Pit lands) jump a 10 cut grader break (approx 30 mtrs) like it wasn't there
I would hzard a guess and say the winds were a big factor in that happening. I have seen the same kind of thing, but to date we have been fairely lucky around here.
Tjupurula
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I would hzard a guess and say the winds were a big factor in that happening. I have seen the same kind of thing, but to date we have been fairely lucky around here.
Tjupurula
Yeah the winds were pushing it along, but the 4-6ft tall grass and spinifex was more to blame
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I be around soon :cheers:
Well that makes 2 of us so I hope they are on ice! ;D :cheers:
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Much prefer a controlled burn to an uncontrolled one. ;D Wish they did it a bit more often across the entire country. May not have had such unfortunate events down south ... maybe ... perhaps.
Kit_e
Generally we only have a window of opportunity of about six weeks in our district the transition from winter to spring before it gets too hot and dangerous to try burnoff's.
But the last 3 or 4 years mother nature has had other idea's with her weather patterns so we now face fuel loads that we haven't seen in 40 years.
Average grass height around here is 2-3 metres high and dying off fast with the frosts, then our fire mitigation guy tells us the long range forecast looks like going back to El Nino patterns :'( but only time will tell its a natural cycle.
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Hi Stormchaser
With grass that high, I would not like to be around your area should any fire happen. Doesn't the local SHire have any slashers or the like to get rid of that potential fire trap.
Tjupurula
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Doesn't the local SHire have any slashers or the like to get rid of that potential fire trap.Tjupurula
I dont know if tis the same as burnoffs but the bullShit and paperwork and reports that need to be done to get a burnoff approved, nobody can be ****ed bothering...
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Last year our council did a review of their bushfire management policies. There is/was a lot of stuff coming through from research into the vic fires suggesting that there needs to be a lot more control/planning in fuel reduction burns. Not that they shouldnt happen but be more scientific about the process.
Particularly they were talking about not burning in gullies to promote wetter /greener corridors but burning elsewhere. Not sure how they plan to do that but was interesting non the less.
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Hi Stormchaser
With grass that high, I would not like to be around your area should any fire happen. Doesn't the local SHire have any slashers or the like to get rid of that potential fire trap.
Tjupurula
Yeah they do but you can't slash everywhere the same as we cannot burn everywhere.
The amount of growth during last spring for example was amazing by the time the council had finished their mowing schedule around the local parks and reserves and got back to the start it was like they had never mowed there at all in the first place.
So areas that don't get grazed off and roadsides could well be a problem this year, even the local mines rehab area's are not looking real crash hot either with the fuel load they have but apparently a 6Ft slasher line around the boundary is an adequete fire break. ???
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Please tell me you are kidding. Do the bureaucrats not know the dangers of grass that high, or do they have to wait for someone to lose their life, then for a Coroner to explain why fires spread through grass at that height unbelievably quickly.
Tjupurula
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Do the bureaucrats not know the dangers of grass that high, or do they have to wait for someone to lose their life, then for a Coroner to explain why fires spread through grass at that height unbelievably quickly.
I think you know the answer to that question... Having sat through a coronial enquiry I'd never wanna be being "questioned" (if thats what you can call it) at one..
It costs money to constantly mow grass.. easier to take the chance.
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Well it has started already we have been flatout all weekend as are a lot of NSW RFS brigades at the moment.
A lot of them due to people trying to burn off before the 1st of september when the permits come into play, can't blame them thou just wish they had prepared their containment lines better.
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This sounds like a job for a bloke with a large brush cutter & a backpack fuel tank . Dont laugh its not as silly as it soungd :cheers:
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We see this a fair bit around my neck of the woods as well. In about a week or two there will be smoke somewhere in sight and this will go on for a month or more, depending on the rain. Always some gully going off in the mountains, or on the other side. Tourists are heard complaining about it but I bet they would rather not be stuck in a bad burn. It would seem that most people don't realise the good it does the country, added to the benefits of fuel reduction.
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This sounds like a job for a bloke with a large brush cutter & a backpack fuel tank . Dont laugh its not as silly as it soungd :cheers:
A drip torch can be mans best friend in a fire....
(http://www.nationalfirefighter.com/images/drt100fssm.jpg)
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I dont know if tis the same as burnoffs but the bull**** and paperwork and reports that need to be done to get a burnoff approved, nobody can be ****ed bothering...
Please tell me you are kidding. Do the bureaucrats not know the dangers of grass that high, or do they have to wait for someone to lose their life, then for a Coroner to explain why fires spread through grass at that height unbelievably quickly.
Tjupurula
Was the RFS Rep on a committee about 3yrs ago to 'think tank' the Hazard Reduction plans on a few parcels of land that belonged to the local 'traditional owners'. These pieces of land were so thick with trees & leaf litter, it was a battle trying to walk through.
Long story short...after 2 days, discussions came to a halt, because Council's L&E was adamant she would not come on board. She would only accept under-scrubbing ::)
Of course, the RFS has the right to over-rule, but typical upper-management doesn't like to cause friction! >:(
I rarely have much to do with it all anymore, can only deal with so much BS
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look. Up here it works like this. The stations and hands as they drive around and stop for various reasons are quite likely to throw a match into a lump of grass. If the load can carry the fire it will, if not it won't. As has been explained to me by an owner of a 250,000 square K station, how in the hell do you think we could manage the land with out these type of tactics.
The real issue that so many just don't get is that a low grade fire that runs for a week or so over the land with a small fuel load will regenerate with the rains over the wet. If you haven't been here then you wouldn't know. The real fact is that if they don't burn and the fuel loads get to high the fire will burn with such a ferocity that the seeds and ground roots are damaged beyond repair and so the grasses will not regenerate and the land will be un-usable for years after. You can see it easy with the big fires we have verse the slow week over week fires.
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Steve well said there is something wonderful to be see when a fire blackened area gets its 1st rains & the green of the new growth takes comand . l have watched Kimberly grass fires over many nights blaze away in the distance only to be stoped by an early wet shower :cheers:
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Was the RFS Rep on a committee about 3yrs ago to 'think tank' the Hazard Reduction plans on a few parcels of land that belonged to the local 'traditional owners'. These pieces of land were so thick with trees & leaf litter, it was a battle trying to walk through.
Long story short...after 2 days, discussions came to a halt, because Council's L&E was adamant she would not come on board. She would only accept under-scrubbing ::)
Of course, the RFS has the right to over-rule, but typical upper-management doesn't like to cause friction! >:(
I rarely have much to do with it all anymore, can only deal with so much BS
Wow! We actually got permission off our local land council to do some HR work on their land recently i think mainly cause they cannot mange it themselves, it is the local hoons playground and rubbish dump now council have put up the tip fees. We managed to reduce about 30ha around residences and industrial blocks but there would still be another 150-200ha to go. The local kids will help do that as they have already burn't a couple of cars up there causing small grass fires the next one will be extinguished with our driptorch while we have the recourses available to contain it. The area we burn't off already has quite a bit of green growth shooting up so surely it has got to be a win/win situation.
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Steve well said there is something wonderful to be see when a fire blackened area gets its 1st rains & the green of the new growth takes comand . l have watched Kimberly grass fires over many nights blaze away in the distance only to be stoped by an early wet shower :cheers:
On a recent trip to the NT it was amazing just how many unattended burns were trickling along the roads not hurting anyone or anything it was great to see! Never happen in NSW but it's a different environment i guess.
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Never happen in NSW but it's a different envoirnoment i guess.
Political, socially and environmental.
Chalk & Cheese.
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Over the drought years we have collected in the ranks of councles & local Govt dpartments a slew of GREENIES . So imho they wont let the burns happen as it might upset the world as they know it , or want it to be . So as there are big frogs in little puddles clogging up the works the grasses grow as a habatat to the creepy crawlies & what ever . This is in direct competion to how the environment is supposed to operate . Burn off to enable regrowth as is the nature of the country . Or am l wrong ??? ??? hopefully somebody will try to convince me otherwise ;D