Controlled burn offs

[Tjupurula]

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

[speewa158]

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 .

[Tjupurula]

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

[SteveandViv]

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

[Stormchaser]

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.

[Tjupurula]

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

[fuji]

Some people just don't get it!  They must be from the big smoke, lol
Wayne

[qlddsl]

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

[RosLed]

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.

[Tjupurula]

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

[Moto Mech]

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.

[Tjupurula]

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

[Tjupurula]

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

[Matto]

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

[Tjupurula]

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

[Matto]

Nothing wrong with that then!

Forgot just how far out you live...

Cheers!
Matto

[qlddsl]

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

[Tjupurula]

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

[Kit_e_kat9]

Much prefer a controlled burn to an uncontrolled one.      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

[Tjupurula]

Much prefer a controlled burn to an uncontrolled one.      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

[qlddsl]

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

[Bird]

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...

[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

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

[qlddsl]

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

[Stormchaser]

I be around soon

Well that makes 2 of us so I hope they are on ice!