FirePhotography.net

So after a long hard day of chainsawing and moving logs in the bush we were all just about to head home for the day, some of us already had, when the chorus of pagers went off. Mt. Forbes 41 were on scene at a grass fire along the Cunningham Highway at Willowbank and requesting additional resources. All available crews and appliances turned out – Chucka, Bull & Myself brought up the rear with 52.

Upon arrival we discovered a couple of hectares well alight and a few appliances already on scene including urban pumper from Karana Downs, 644A, in action – property protection. We quickly joined the mix and within a short period of time the fire was knocked down.

The cause of the fire then became apparent. A wheel had come off a towed trailer, the chassis being dragged along the highway for some distance. The resulting sparks ignited a fire on the side of the roadway which quickly swept up the hillside.

After a thorough inspection of the blackened out edge, we filled up what little water we used and called it a day.

Commencing on the evening of Friday 21 August 2009 Ripley Valley began quite a large hazard reduction burn in bushland at Springfield bordering on Orion, Polaris and the University.

With approx 600 hectares to burn the planning had been going for weeks and approximately 18km’s of fire breaks prepared using a dozer. A lot of work had been put in by senior members of the brigade in assessing the burn and getting everything ready.

I must say I think our guys did an extremely professional job.

And back for some more punishment