A roundup of all the news around the regions …
News Roundup April 28
AMTA Submission to the Royal Commission
Maintaing the integrity of our telecommunications infrastructure during bushfires is critical. It is therefore encouraging to see the telecommunications industry working together to document their experiences during this summers fires and present their findings to the Royal Commission.
FLIR K1 Situational Awareness Camera’s for 25 Brigades
There were some very creative reasons how Brigades might use their new FLIR K1 Situational Awareness Cameras.
Based upon the applications, the VFFA has selected 25 Brigades as recipients of the new FLIR K1 Situational Awareness Cameras.
The successful Brigades are….
Nightlife: Australia’s Pyrocene future
Were our recent bushfires the equivalent of an ice age? What does this mean for Australia and the rest of the world? Will the after-effects have a prolonged impact on our future?
Nightline’s Philip Clark in conversation with Stephen Pyne, Emeritus Professor at Arizona State University, specializing in environmental history, the history of exploration, and especially the history of fire. Also the author of Burning Bush: A Fire History of Australia.
Conjola Park photo wins 2nd Prize at World Press Photo Contest
Matthew Abbott’s photo of melted aluminium running in rivers from beneath a burnt out car at Lake Conjola won 2nd Prize in the World Press Photo Awards in the Spot News Stories category.
Bushfire Royal Commission Up and Running
The Royal Commission is up and running and you can find a link to the Opening and the complete transcrpt in this post.
We also review an excellent Sydney Mormning Herald article which quotes VFFA President Mick Holton.
Resilience
Early in 2019, Vic Jurskis warned on the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association website, that in the event of severe fire weather, all the bush from Bairnsdale to Sydney would be incinerated due to an unprecedented accumulation of three-dimensionally continuous fuel. In extreme weather, such fuel inevitably creates firestorms with long distance ember showers. Firebreaks, fire engines and waterbombers can’t stop them.
In this article, Vic shares his thoughts as the NSW Fire inquiry reviews 1000 submissions.
What saved Kurrajong Heights from the Gospers Mountain fire?
The Hawkesbury Gazette published a very good report on the presentation to the Kurrajong Heights Community made by VFFA Vice President Brian Williams and his brigade. The story contains links to the Gazette article and the Report to the Community
Fighting Fire with Fire
THe ABC have done a great job with their Australian Story on Victor Steffensen and Aboriginal Burning called “Fighting Fire wiith Fire”.
By following Victor’s teachings we have the potential to properly restore our bushland. The elimination of mega fires is a most welcome by-product.
Thank you cards and letters from Scouts in the US
The VFFA received a bunch of thank you cards and letters from Scouts in the US.
The cards and letters were sent by Samantha Palmer and the VFFA has produced this short video to say thanks.
The cards, letters and video acknowledges the hard work by all firefighters in Australia and those from other countries that deployed to assist.
A big thank you to all of the Scouts for their cards and letters, you support is very much appreciated.