Nsw fire service alerts now

[V8falcons]

Anyone on the wollondilly shire receiving NSW fire service allerts now??? several messages,several land line calls?????????

[Vekgib]

Wingecarribee shire here. We got all the messages & warnings too.

[brydie76]

http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_i...594&CAT_ID=684

Everybody in the 2 regions of NSW (Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Ranges) that are under a catastrophic fire warning today should have gotten a call/text. Hope everybody in those regions is ok today, and is ready for whatever happens.

Still not great news for the rest if the state, the bushfire warning map is pretty crazy- nearly all the state is under a severe or extreme warning! Stay safe (and hydrated) everybody! : )

(And best wishes/thoughts with other states too, esp TAS. Know they have copped it bad recently too)

EDIT- good idea to keep an eye in the above website today/follow the RFS on FB or Twitter. They are being very proactive in updating these channels with info and warnings.

[Selwonk]

i am in shoalhaven,we got 3 text messages and a recorded message on the landline last night.

[The Yeti]

the fire services have releiced an app NSW's is called fires near me CFA in vic have called their's CFA Fire Ready I beleive

this will tell you where the fire is and if your loation is active in your phone settings it will give you a distance from you

of course this is only of use if you have an active internet conection so its also a good idea to have the old AM radio with batterys (ABC will keep you up todate)

as said above stay out of the heat as much as possible stay well hydrated (with Water, NOT beer wine or soft drinks) keep a close eye on your hydration levels

[79FordEsky]

Vekgib I am in the Wingecarribee as well, I heard that Wingello has a fire at the moment

[Vekgib]

Originally Posted by 79FordEsky

Vekgib I am in the Wingecarribee as well, I heard that Wingello has a fire at the moment

Did'nt hear that. I heard there was a scrub fire at Exeter which was under control. Nothing here in Robertson (yet) fortunately.

[79FordEsky]

Thats good mate Yeh I had a look on the RFS website, I am in Bowral, As a former resident of Bundanoon I know its bad for fires down there with the national park

[b2tf]

In Wagga (Forest Hill) and its been a very busy day. Tomorrow probably won't be any better.

[Russ]

I live in Sussex Inlet, we received several text messages and a recorded message on the home phone, police door knocked our place this morning and told us to be prepared to get out :(. We left at around 1.30pm today, just in time as it happened as they closed the Princes Hwy not long after :( The family and I are staying at the inlaws place 30 mins to the north . Hopefully all will be ok and our place will be spared

[Russ]

Just a quick update for anyone interested, i managed to get back home today grabbed a few more bits and pieces and got back out again, fire is still burning out of control and has burnt out 5,000 ha conditions are much cooler and fire fighters are doing an excellent job. Just hope the predicted weather for Friday and Saturday doesn't create more problems. It's travelled and burnt out over 1000 ha just this afternoon despite being firebombed from overhead for many hours, I'd hate to think where it would be without the efforts of the RFS it's still about 10 km's from our area but considering it was at least 25 kms only 24 hours ago it's still too close for comfort :(

[79FordEsky]

Russ I hope you stay safe mate

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by V8falcons

Anyone on the wollondilly shire receiving NSW fire service allerts now??? several messages,several land line calls?????????

My parents are in Wollondilly Shire and also got the TXT / phone calls. Aparently the TXT's came through at around 10pm and the call circa 11pm.

They were a bit shocked... more impressed with 'how they knew our numbers' over the service they were providing. Their neighbour is a privately owned block of scrub and bush and just a few weeks ago they woke to see a dozer clearing a 6m perimeter up to their back fence.

Hope this all passes over quickly...

[mex351]

Originally Posted by b2tf

In Wagga (Forest Hill) and its been a very busy day. Tomorrow probably won't be any better.

I spent today out at Mates Gully Road (Tarcutta) replacing 10 power poles that literally were burnt to the ground!

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by mex351

I spent today out at Mates Gully Road (Tarcutta) replacing 10 power poles that literally were burnt to the ground!

Yeh the boss was out there last night, got relos out that way. Serves that silly #%%&@& in the car at Wokolena right though.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by 79FordEsky

Russ I hope you stay safe mate

Cheers mate, yeah the family and I are well away from any danger and will only rèturn when it's safe to do so

[NickyN]

This is what we're reading about here in the US.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-0...if-map/4458006

Please everyone in AU, stay hydrated, keep out of the sun is at all possible, stay cool and please stay safe.

I wish I could send you all some cooler weather.......

[NickyN]

The color pink and purple was newly added to the heat index because of the heat wave there right?

[poppa smurf]

yep the weather bureau had to make up new colours to describe the extra heat that is expected next week here in good old south Australia

gonna be over the fifties they reckon next week........another heat wave coming

got a couple fires burning here, NSW is ablaze, Tassie is alight, NT has a few, wouldn't live anywhere else for quids

anyone near these infernos just get out early and stay safe!

[Agent86]

As a thought from experience, If any fire is active, ABC is NOT up to date.
Their info can be between 30 and 60 miniutes behind..

It is not to be relied on..


And before anyone jumps all over me and cries BS, im speaking from direct experience..

[The Yeti]

So what's better than the ABC

I personally can't see how any media service could get better than 30 - 60min delay

From the time the guy on the ground tells his group leader and they all sit down for a media releice its going to take that

[Agent86]

My point is, that when people on the ground looking to defend their property are relying on information, the abc is hoplessly behind.

During the black saturday bs, we had acted on events and contained before the first warning of iminent danger within 15 min was anounced.

I would hate to see anyone take their reports as current hot off thepress, because its not.

Cfa etc, websites are updated more frequently in general.

The absolute best way to be up to date is to have a radio with the local frequencies.
Not going to respond in time any other way.

[The Yeti]

I'm here to tell your reliying on the CFA website you have big floors in your plan

my point is to here whats going on in your area, you are best to keep an ear out on ABC,

not every one has a need for local frequencies and I dont beleive you should have one just for listening to local fireys,

hell if every one acked on what they heard on a scanner the world would be a mess

[Agent86]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

I'm here to tell your reliying on the CFA website you have big floors in your plan

my point is to here whats going on in your area, you are best to keep an ear out on ABC,

not every one has a need for local frequencies and I dont beleive you should have one just for listening to local fireys,

hell if every one acked on what they heard on a scanner the world would be a mess

I didnt say i relied on it, just observed that it was more often moreup to date.
We used to watch the satelite heat map on days where vigilance was needed, as well astalking with friends in the cfa.

The direct info was what highlighted how behindthe news broadcasts were.

Im not trying to argue, just point out that anyone planning on a stay and defend tactic, cannot rely on the abc for accurate info.

For the general public who will leave early, it is sufficent.

[The Yeti]

OK I have to choose my words carfully here becasue I beleive this subject is VERY important.

What Agent 86 is saying its correct to a point, in terms of the media broadcasts it would be the most uptodate availabile but in real terms 30 - 60mins is porbably about right.

so that brings me to the leave early or stay and protect debate

As a fire fighter I have no problem with people staying to defend / protect. as long as they have done their planing, and property maintaince and are dressed approriatly (nothing worse than a guy in Haviana's and Nylon footy shorts standing on his roof with his thumb over the end of a garden hose as the fire comes up the ridge)

but if the hosue is prepaired (gutters clean, short grass no over hanging trees etc and your in Long / Long with good strong boots, goggles and nappy, & your fit and healthy) why not?

From there listening to ABC is still good, and at times a UHF & Scanner can cause people to Panic, but they are not with out merit.

basicaly in fire fighting terms its hurry up & wait, get every thing prepaired and wait, rest, stay hydrated, keep an ear on the radio and look out side, whats the wind doing which way is it coming, how much smoke and black leaves are coming etc

in real terms go to your relivan fire service website, they all have planing packs to down load and get your selfs ready.

we've done ours, and I can tell you if it gets hot where I live my wife will be in the 38 with the kids and out o there, the house is preped the tank & pump will be running (we can run for over an hour putting putting a water curtain over the hosue and shed and puting in an automatic wetline) and she will be gone if the fire passes through and the hosue and shed are still standing great, if not call insurance and start again

[Agent86]

Driving at a similarpoint from different perspectives.

If your a firey, i really do appreciate the hardyakka you guys and girls put in.
Not for the faint of heart.

Our place is set up with permanant roof sprinklers and gutter plugs.
The main advantage is the generator that will run the bore pump for two days non stop before running out of juice.

I guess you wouldnt be surprised to hear the amount of people that did exactly as you describe after being caught unawares.

I wonder if there would be any merit in a sticky post on methods of correct property preperation and related subjects?

[NickyN]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

we've done ours, and I can tell you if it gets hot where I live my wife will be in the 38 with the kids and out o there, the house is preped the tank & pump will be running (we can run for over an hour putting putting a water curtain over the hosue and shed and puting in an automatic wetline) and she will be gone if the fire passes through and the hosue and shed are still standing great, if not call insurance and start again

Your home is set up so it can run a water curtain over your home & shed for over an hour? Wow.....never heard of that here in the U.S. That's a great idea!


Soo, how is it today in NSW?

[MITCHAY]

It's another potentially another high risk day tomorrow so hopefully all goes ok.

Luckily the ACT has had no major fires but coming up to the 10 year anniversary of the firestorm we had would definitely have a few on edge. I will never forget that day.

We didn't lose anything and about the worse thing was getting burnt by massive embers but I have some level of empathy. The fire services are doing a massive job and hopefully they can all go home soon.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by NickyN

Your home is set up so it can run a water curtain over your home & shed for over an hour? Wow.....never heard of that here in the U.S. That's a great idea!


Soo, how is it today in NSW?

Not as technical as it sounds 2 tanks 2 petrol powered fire pumps, plumbed to sprinkler heads, start the pumps and go, if you don't over rev it the tanks have enough water for a bit over an hour, yea the pumps will then run dry until they run out of fuel and stuff the impellers but its a small price to pay

Sounds like agent 86 has a similar thing going,

It's not uncommon in fire prone areas, mine doesn't really fall into that but I had the stuff so I did it, that and the guy next doors place is overgrown to buggery so ember attack would be my biggest risk not direct fire

[The Yeti]

O and Nicky it got to 40c in western Sydney or 104f in your language

Tommorws billed to be 45c or 107f