SA Firefighter

General Discussion => SA Firefighter General => Topic started by: rescue5271 on August 13, 2006, 03:32:50 PM

Title: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on August 13, 2006, 03:32:50 PM
Had a nice drive to adelaide the other day and all the way down I was some what amazed at just how dry it was and that in some area's it would not take much for a fire to start.So whats it like in your area??? I know the CFA have some problems with dams and water points being empty and that crew numbers are well down.....
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on August 13, 2006, 03:48:59 PM
Dont forget Blinky it is starting to dry off quickly around here as well despite it still being green in the paddocks
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Camo on August 13, 2006, 06:16:14 PM
Seriously Rob im in Kalangadoo once a week...the grass there is so green you could paint your house with it!

Same for Mount Gambier  we havent had a lot of rain but its been at the right times and enough to keep the pastures pretty lush.

The saying here is if we have decent rain in september it is green to christmas.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on August 13, 2006, 06:22:56 PM
I agree with you there Camo but what if we dont get that mucn rain come September-October it will be dry
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: PF_ on August 13, 2006, 08:11:04 PM
Keith is pretty dry, well it was a month ago.  My grandad is shitting himself cause the frosts have killed all the feed and crops.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Camo on August 13, 2006, 08:21:24 PM
yeah up there once a week also......dont think it has actually gotten green this year
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: PF_ on August 13, 2006, 08:33:35 PM
what do you do to drive all over the south east?
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: 24P on August 13, 2006, 09:23:52 PM
yeah up there once a week also......dont think it has actually gotten green this year
Went to the Mount the other week and the grass did seem a little bit brownish around Keith way.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: fire03rescue on August 13, 2006, 10:00:37 PM
for the Coopers Pale Ale Rally this week they will have to get some tankers in for the water jump areas, some of the tracks are dry for this time of year
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Camo on August 13, 2006, 10:01:56 PM
what do you do to drive all over the south east?

Yep good fun and get paid for it too.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: PF_ on August 13, 2006, 10:19:09 PM
for the Coopers Pale Ale Rally this week they will have to get some tankers in for the water jump areas, some of the tracks are dry for this time of year

You mean Toyota Rally SA :wink:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on August 18, 2006, 07:01:40 PM
CFA have had a few early wake up calls with some good running grass and scrub fires in the past week.....
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on August 20, 2006, 03:17:13 PM
The way that CFS & CFA brigades have responded to grass & scrubbies even though its still winter highlights the fact that there is indeed lots of dry patches of grass & scrub land around SA & Western Victoria     
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: oz fire on August 23, 2006, 12:09:40 PM
Gents - welcome to the reality that the rest of this HUGE state faces every year! Nice to see the SE joining the rest of SA!

Fear not though, a lot of areas of the state have had below avaerage rain fall for a few years now! Thankfully the community acknowledges this and does their part - more focused fire prevention and planning - maybe it may just be a little earlier for the SE this year  :-o
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on August 23, 2006, 12:34:09 PM
You are right OZ FIRE people are doing more fire prevention around their homes and properties but its the fact that El Nino has well and truly settled over South Australia and not going away any time soon

The South East both Upper & Lower have seen below average rainfall during winter as well as heavy frost which have killed off alot of grass and crops... but we dont know what the 06-70 fire season has in store for us until it happens  :-) 
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: SA Firey on August 26, 2006, 04:06:23 PM
There's that fellow El Nino again he is responsible for the large number of baby girls being born this year too! :evil:

The grass is still green here but with a couple of 26 degree days forecast this week lets see how long it DOES take to dry off :-D
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on August 27, 2006, 07:08:29 AM
Now its his sister that is causing all the problems this year????
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Camo on August 27, 2006, 12:30:07 PM
I think they just make up something so people dont think they are stupid.

Interesting thing i spotted this morning...

Was driving past Mt Gambier Airport and noticed what looked to be a Water Bomber!

Now whether its down here on contract spraying or here as a water bomber im not sure.  I would presume the first one.

Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: SA Firey on August 27, 2006, 12:39:59 PM
It is based down there all the time and used for contract jobs outside fire season as is the others here which stay at Parafield Airport :wink:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on August 27, 2006, 07:25:08 PM
two in naracoorte at the moment getting a service and doing spray work...just need a chopper for summer and we wille right camo.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: SA Firey on August 27, 2006, 08:33:55 PM
Hey Blinky isnt the first biggy of fire season usually Ngarkat :-D :lol:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: oz fire on August 28, 2006, 12:49:38 PM
Hey Blinky isnt the first biggy of fire season usually Ngarkat :-D :lol:

Ahhh...... bring on that lightning!

Then the fun and games between R3 and R5 can begin, again, for another year!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on August 28, 2006, 02:34:16 PM
I wouldn't have thought that there would be much of Ngarkat that hasn't been burnt from last year!  :-D
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Darius on August 28, 2006, 03:49:21 PM
I wouldn't have thought that there would be much of Ngarkat that hasn't been burnt from last year!  :-D

(or the year before) no there's plenty left, I'll bet too that it will feature again this summer
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on August 28, 2006, 03:57:38 PM
Still lots to burn up there just hope its done early in the season this year and that crews get better looked after this time when it comes to work/meals and meals.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: medevac on August 28, 2006, 04:00:45 PM
I wouldn't have thought that there would be much of Ngarkat that hasn't been burnt from last year!  :-D

(or the year before) no there's plenty left, I'll bet too that it will feature again this summer

shhhhhh.......  :wink:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: oz fire on August 28, 2006, 05:38:44 PM
Hopefully, if it does happen there will be a very strong westerly behid it - then it can blow through into Victoria and hit their abrren scare from the Big desert fire a few year back!  far better than it blowing out into grazing and croppojg country!

Better still why chase it, monitor, watch and then protect the park boundaries!
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CFS_Firey on August 28, 2006, 06:52:46 PM
Better still, lets not have a fire at all! then we can stay at home in the airconditioning... :P
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: firetruck on August 30, 2006, 08:54:05 PM
Better still, lets night have a fire at all! then we can stay at home in the airconditioning... :P

now thats my kinda summer!
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: medevac on August 30, 2006, 09:03:45 PM
aaah..... cricket and beer.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Manuel on August 30, 2006, 09:15:49 PM
and the beach...
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: medevac on August 30, 2006, 09:43:27 PM
hmmm... and bikinis.  :wink:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Manuel on August 30, 2006, 09:44:21 PM
NO nude beach i say :-D
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: PF_ on August 30, 2006, 10:30:22 PM
if you wanna shrivvle ya schnizzle in the sun go for it!  :-o :oops:

summer is a time for sunglasses, not to coer up the sun but to cover up wandering eye's, so many mini skirts  :-P

Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on August 31, 2006, 09:12:20 AM
Back to the topic...I was listening to the ABC yesterday and they were saying that the chance of us having an El Nino event prior to xmas was really high and that the increase chance of a significant fire was 20%...and Andy Lawson was saying this morning that the fire danger season may be brought forward to Oct due to the lack of rain...could be a LONG season... :x
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on August 31, 2006, 09:30:12 AM
Holy cow  :-o you kidding me all mighty DGO CaptCom
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Pipster on August 31, 2006, 11:12:31 AM
One of the telling indicators, re how dry things are, is looking at the soil dryness indicators - that is a measure of how much rain (in mm) is required to saturate the top layer of soil.  The higher the number, the drier things are.

Taking the figures from Met Bureau site, for this year, and the previous two years, at the same time, at the following sites are:

Naracoorte  150, 100, 0
Mt Gambier 50, 48, 0
Mt Barker 35, 0, 25
Mt Crawford 35, 0 ,20
Clare 70, 30, 20

So, in all sites listed, it is drier this year, than at the same time in the previous two years.  There is nothing listed for other areas, but I would imagine that they are very dry too....

Pip
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on August 31, 2006, 11:59:16 AM
Holy cow  :-o you kidding me all mighty DGO CaptCom

all true Robert34...and I've seen what extreme weather can do with a going fire... = Black Tuesday...

Pip is right...soil dryness and then quicker curing rate = early fire danger... = shite against fan..
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Darius on August 31, 2006, 01:05:17 PM

it's funny, it certainly feels like there has been less rain than last year (and I've got one tank that's not yet full) however just measuring local rainfall where I am (southern mt lofty ranges) we are pretty much spot on with last year.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CFS_Firey on August 31, 2006, 01:13:41 PM
I've heard rumours that this years weather pattern is closely mimicking those of 1979 and 1982 (before both ash Wednesdays), but I haven't been able to find any official information about it...

Does anyone know how anything more about that?  Like in what way they are similar?
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on August 31, 2006, 02:17:36 PM
Well CFS_ Firey if histroy has taught us anything is that weather patterns from great fires such as 1983 can repeat and i have to agree with you the weather pattern from 1979/1982 is happening again as we've been in a drought for the last few months with low rain fall

  
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: mattb on August 31, 2006, 05:20:31 PM
CFS Deputy Chief Officer Andrew Lawson today mentioned in a press conference that the fire season could even be brought as far forward as mid September.

The weather gurus are saying they can see no significant rainfall likely in September. Could be an interesting year.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: firetruck on August 31, 2006, 05:28:20 PM
oohh, it sounds like im gonna be spending a lot of these holidays on the back of my 24!
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: mattb on August 31, 2006, 05:41:25 PM
Further to my last post:

Weatherzone Press Release

Adelaide endures driest winter on record]

31/08/2006: Adelaide has just suffered its driest winter on record and the driest August in 62 years, according to Weatherzone.

A paltry 10mm of rain fell during the month, compared to a long-term average of 70mm.

Throughout the entire winter season, Adelaide received only 59mm, when it would normally expect 232mm.

“Traditionally, winter is the wettest time of year in Adelaide, so to receive such low rainfall this winter is a worrying sign heading into the drier summer months,” Weatherzone meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

“The very dry conditions have been a result of unusually high pressure across southern Australia, keeping rain-bearing cold fronts well to the south.

“Unfortunately with the threat of an El Nino developing, the pattern of warm weather is expected to continue through spring.”

In addition, daytime temperatures in the city have also been high – the average maximum of 19 degrees was the warmest in 13 years.

Nighttime temperatures, though, were closer to average, despite a spell of cold nights around the middle of the month. The temperature dropped to a chilly three degrees on the 10th, making it the coldest August morning since 1999.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Manuel on August 31, 2006, 11:53:06 PM
Well we can only hope that nothing that bad happens, we are still trying to deal with the last one that went bad. Lets hope the police are on to all those pyros :-D
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on September 01, 2006, 09:29:13 AM
You will find that the response plans will be ramped up to allow for the lack of soil moisture and the potential for another AW or BT is quite high..2 years since the last is probably not long enough to forget!!

We didnt' have enough resources then..and we never will when mother nature decides to play nasty... :cry:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on September 01, 2006, 01:26:41 PM
Any update yet on what date this month the fire season is gonna start CaptCom cause i have a gut feeling we might see another AW this fire season   :cry:
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on September 01, 2006, 02:11:18 PM
I haven't heard anything further on the update...I would expect that it will depend on the weather in the next few weeks...if the weather continues to be hot and windy...it may be start of Oct...would also depend on curing rates...it should go to the Groups for consultation too...maybe.. :?
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on September 01, 2006, 03:51:03 PM
Number of farmers down this way burning off and they have had some great burns and with the soil dryness and not much water about what more can I say....
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Manuel on September 01, 2006, 04:23:16 PM
It was a hot windy one today, lets hope it does not stay like this all summer as things would dry out even more.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: firetruck on September 02, 2006, 06:06:27 PM
Lets hope the police are on to all those pyros :-D

unlikely. There was a post sent out today to springton CFS members saying eden valley attended 4 deliberately lit fires in quick succession yesterday.

Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on September 02, 2006, 08:47:13 PM
Who wants to start taking bets that the fire season will start in a couple weeks time  :-D

Just to add i have found these pager messages on the site which proves the fire bugs are indeed running rampant


1908993 16:43:38 02-09-06 MFS: RESPOND GRASS FIRE 02/09/06 16:43,484 LESLIE CREEK RD,LONGWOOD, MAP 157 K 14 ,,,8624*CFSRES:

1919306 16:27:45 02-09-06 SHQ: URGMSG GLOSSOP RESPOND GRASS FIRE DRAPER RD, BERRI, BETWEEN RODEO GROUNDS AND RIVER < 2/09/2006 16:27:33

1909103 14:01:51 02-09-06 SHQ: CFSRES TANUNDA RESPOND GRASS FIRE GOMERSAL RD, TANUNDA - OPPOSITE WRECKERS YARD < 2/09/2006 14:01:38

1909131 11:27:29 02-09-06 SHQ: CFSRES BIRDWORD RESPOND GRASS FIRE LUCKY HIT RD & CROMER RD, BIRDWOOD < 2/09/2006 11:27:18

It looks like were in for one long fire season  :cry:

Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: firetruck on September 02, 2006, 09:50:59 PM
don't forget robbo, not all of them could be delibs.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Toast on September 03, 2006, 01:09:38 AM
Who wants to start taking bets that the fire season will start in a couple weeks time  :-D

Just to add i have found these pager messages on the site which proves the fire bugs are indeed running rampant


1908993 16:43:38 02-09-06 MFS: RESPOND GRASS FIRE 02/09/06 16:43,484 LESLIE CREEK RD,LONGWOOD, MAP 157 K 14 ,,,8624*CFSRES:

1919306 16:27:45 02-09-06 SHQ: URGMSG GLOSSOP RESPOND GRASS FIRE DRAPER RD, BERRI, BETWEEN RODEO GROUNDS AND RIVER < 2/09/2006 16:27:33

1909103 14:01:51 02-09-06 SHQ: CFSRES TANUNDA RESPOND GRASS FIRE GOMERSAL RD, TANUNDA - OPPOSITE WRECKERS YARD < 2/09/2006 14:01:38

1909131 11:27:29 02-09-06 SHQ: CFSRES BIRDWORD RESPOND GRASS FIRE LUCKY HIT RD & CROMER RD, BIRDWOOD < 2/09/2006 11:27:18

It looks like were in for one long fire season  :cry:



Have you heard the term: Burn Off?
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: rescue5271 on September 03, 2006, 12:18:55 PM
More than likely people are burning off just in case restrictions start early,and if they are good on them but they still need to take care.....
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on September 04, 2006, 09:06:34 AM
Nothing like twitchy firies...waiting to respond...I would be disappointed if those responses were to controlled burns...people do need to remember that landowners aren't required to notify anyone outside of permit/fire danger season... :-o
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Darius on September 04, 2006, 09:58:26 AM

well I can only speak for the first one, twas a resident who had emptied a pile of ashes into her garden bed that morning.  It had slowly smouldered away throughout the day until it found some (almost) dry leaves.  Ended up about 20mx5m burnt, quite surprising considering all the green stuff around it.
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Toast on September 04, 2006, 01:56:46 PM
Nothing like twitchy firies...waiting to respond...I would be disappointed if those responses were to controlled burns...people do need to remember that landowners aren't required to notify anyone outside of permit/fire danger season... :-o

The main issue is people driving past and reporting smoke. So far we've only had controlled burns called in. I wouldn't say twitchy firies... more like ones that turn out when responded?
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: CaptCom on September 04, 2006, 02:52:36 PM
I've seen plenty of twitchy ones...love to be responded...

I agree that the public are part of the problem out of season...but they are only trying to help...  :-)
Title: Re: drying off fast
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on September 04, 2006, 05:18:56 PM
The tell tale signs of a really bad and busy fire season have been present for the last few months as we've had hardly any rain at all, high soil dryness in lots of areas across SA combined with the unusually high temperatures during late August and early this month

Like i said in my earlier post who wants to start taking bets that the CFS will open up the fire season sometime this month  :-D :wink: