We are bathed in a blanket of ash, smoke and hot winds! I am finding it hard to breath and the heat is amazing! Please send us positive thoughts!!!
Bushfires break through
By MEGAN DOHERTY
Saturday, 18 January 2003
Fires have escaped containment lines in the ACT (Canberra)and are running out of control, with rural properties along the Namadgi National Park now at risk in the continuing ferocious conditions.
Tourists were evacuated last night from Thredbo as fires in the Kosciuszko National Park started to bear down on the alpine village, also forcing the cancellation of this weekend's blues festival.
Firefighters were last night battling to protect rangers' homes in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve as all three fires in the Namadgi National Park were spreading out of control.
The $40 million Uriarra pine plantation in the ACT was last night vulnerable to a spot fire burning 2km away, which had escaped the containment lines around the McIntyre's Hut fire in NSW.
The flames were last night about 12km from the outskirts of Canberra. Fire was burning both sides of Mount Franklin Road.
Wind gusts up to 65km/h and on-the-ground temperatures in the mid-40s created hellish conditions yesterday that forced firefighters to be called off the Stockyard Spur, McIntyre's Hut and Bendora fires for their own safety.
There appears to be no respite in sight with fire authorities facing a top temperature today of 38 degrees, winds up to 35km/h and no chance of rain.
Strong north-westerly winds will again send smoke across the city. Burnt leaves were falling in the suburbs yesterday. Health warnings were again issued.
Emergency Services Bureau executive director Mike Castle said last night the situation was serious, as efforts turned from trying to control the fires to protecting property.
''It's the worst conditions we've ever had,'' he said.
''Normally, there might be adverse conditions for 24 hours and then something changes. This looks like continuing for three or four days.''
The whole of the Namadgi National Park has been closed until further notice. Winds were so strong they caused spotting over the Corin Dam.
Properties in the Brindabella Valley were again under threat.
NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Cameron Wade said the Broken Cart Creek fire burning near Tumut had moved into the Yarrowlumla shire and was threatening properties in the Brindabella Valley.
The poor conditions also forced the bushfire logistical support staging areas to be relocated last night from Bulls Head and Orroral Valley, to the North Curtin District playing fields, resulting in these fields being closed to the public.
ACT Bushfire and Emergency Services director Peter Lucas-Smith urged most rural property owners to stay put and fight the fires if they were able.
''They've probably already made decisions in relation as to who should stay and who should go,'' he said.
''And I would encourage them. If there are people there that are fit and competent they should stay with their property to protect their property because structures generally burn down as a result of embers which get caught in crevices and so forth.''
Firefighting efforts were hampered on Thursday night when an ACT Bushfire tanker fell through a bridge, blocking access to the Stockyard Spur fire and preventing NSW firefighters from doing any backburning.
''The threat from the conditions over the next few days is going to be quite significant for our firefighters on the fire line,'' Mr Lucas-Smith said.
''Safety and welfare of our people is paramount in our minds at all times and we are ensuring our people on the fire ground always have escape routes.''
The fires have burnt out more than 8000ha of the Namadgi.
There are now 450 people working around-the-clock on the ACT fires. Another 1100 personnel are seconded to the fires in southern NSW. The ACT will seek more assistance from NSW if the fires get too out of hand.
''The fires have been very difficult to control,'' Mr Lucas-Smith said. ''We've got our containment lines in, we're working from those and the conditions are certainly going to make it a fairly arduous task over the next four or five days.''
Mr Wade said there was a concern for the Uriarra pines.
"We have seen spotting activity up to a kilometre, a kilometre and a half with these fires so we have staged resources on the border,'' he said.
The fires in the Kosciuszko National Park have been described as the worst in 50 years.
The highest town in Australia - Cabramurra, a settlement of 150 people deep within the north-west corner of the park was being protected last night by firefighters. Most residents work for the Snowy Hydro.
This is the scene from our front yard!!!!
Bushfires break through
By MEGAN DOHERTY
Saturday, 18 January 2003
Fires have escaped containment lines in the ACT (Canberra)and are running out of control, with rural properties along the Namadgi National Park now at risk in the continuing ferocious conditions.
Tourists were evacuated last night from Thredbo as fires in the Kosciuszko National Park started to bear down on the alpine village, also forcing the cancellation of this weekend's blues festival.
Firefighters were last night battling to protect rangers' homes in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve as all three fires in the Namadgi National Park were spreading out of control.
The $40 million Uriarra pine plantation in the ACT was last night vulnerable to a spot fire burning 2km away, which had escaped the containment lines around the McIntyre's Hut fire in NSW.
The flames were last night about 12km from the outskirts of Canberra. Fire was burning both sides of Mount Franklin Road.
Wind gusts up to 65km/h and on-the-ground temperatures in the mid-40s created hellish conditions yesterday that forced firefighters to be called off the Stockyard Spur, McIntyre's Hut and Bendora fires for their own safety.
There appears to be no respite in sight with fire authorities facing a top temperature today of 38 degrees, winds up to 35km/h and no chance of rain.
Strong north-westerly winds will again send smoke across the city. Burnt leaves were falling in the suburbs yesterday. Health warnings were again issued.
Emergency Services Bureau executive director Mike Castle said last night the situation was serious, as efforts turned from trying to control the fires to protecting property.
''It's the worst conditions we've ever had,'' he said.
''Normally, there might be adverse conditions for 24 hours and then something changes. This looks like continuing for three or four days.''
The whole of the Namadgi National Park has been closed until further notice. Winds were so strong they caused spotting over the Corin Dam.
Properties in the Brindabella Valley were again under threat.
NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Cameron Wade said the Broken Cart Creek fire burning near Tumut had moved into the Yarrowlumla shire and was threatening properties in the Brindabella Valley.
The poor conditions also forced the bushfire logistical support staging areas to be relocated last night from Bulls Head and Orroral Valley, to the North Curtin District playing fields, resulting in these fields being closed to the public.
ACT Bushfire and Emergency Services director Peter Lucas-Smith urged most rural property owners to stay put and fight the fires if they were able.
''They've probably already made decisions in relation as to who should stay and who should go,'' he said.
''And I would encourage them. If there are people there that are fit and competent they should stay with their property to protect their property because structures generally burn down as a result of embers which get caught in crevices and so forth.''
Firefighting efforts were hampered on Thursday night when an ACT Bushfire tanker fell through a bridge, blocking access to the Stockyard Spur fire and preventing NSW firefighters from doing any backburning.
''The threat from the conditions over the next few days is going to be quite significant for our firefighters on the fire line,'' Mr Lucas-Smith said.
''Safety and welfare of our people is paramount in our minds at all times and we are ensuring our people on the fire ground always have escape routes.''
The fires have burnt out more than 8000ha of the Namadgi.
There are now 450 people working around-the-clock on the ACT fires. Another 1100 personnel are seconded to the fires in southern NSW. The ACT will seek more assistance from NSW if the fires get too out of hand.
''The fires have been very difficult to control,'' Mr Lucas-Smith said. ''We've got our containment lines in, we're working from those and the conditions are certainly going to make it a fairly arduous task over the next four or five days.''
Mr Wade said there was a concern for the Uriarra pines.
"We have seen spotting activity up to a kilometre, a kilometre and a half with these fires so we have staged resources on the border,'' he said.
The fires in the Kosciuszko National Park have been described as the worst in 50 years.
The highest town in Australia - Cabramurra, a settlement of 150 people deep within the north-west corner of the park was being protected last night by firefighters. Most residents work for the Snowy Hydro.
This is the scene from our front yard!!!!
