Thursday 29 January 2015

Unsung Heroes

Small country towns don't have the luxury of huge fire fighting departments. The town itself is supplied with fire fighting capabilities by volunteers. Drive 50 kms to the edge of the shire and take a look at the stubbles, the bush, the roadsides... It's all fuel at Mother Nature's fingertips. When those summer storms hit, more often than not, they're full of lightning and thunder, and the rain doesn't always show up. How do we stop a fire that sends up black plumes of smoke that can be seen from kilometres away? Through the selfless actions of the surrounding neighbours. We don't see the neighbours very often, they actually live 5-15 kms away in most cases. When that smoke signal goes up, they're there.
They commit and they don't stop fighting until it's under control. The wives, mothers, grandparents or children rustle through the pantry and get food together for these selfless people because that smoke signal leaves no time for preparation. You jump in the ute and you go, which is why all fire units are prepped at all times in Summer. A full tank of water, a serviced pump, a full fuel tank - preparation is key if containing this is going to be possible. 
Once they've held it at bay, so begins the 'mop up'. As many units as possible make light work as you grid the fire and 'black out' anything smoking, smouldering or still burning. 
Many a tank of water is drawn from the dam by a fast fill pump that can fill a 1,000 litre tank in less than a minute. Not to mention the behind the scenes volunteers coordinating the attack. These people are manning radios and phones to get enough units, bulldozers, loaders and any other resources required on the scene as quickly as possible. These fires are monitored for days for any flare ups, as is the rest of the country side. Lightning strikes can smoulder for days and flare up in the heat a few days later. Vigilant eyes are something we are taught from a very young age. 

Without these volunteers our properties and many a home would have been lost over the years. We thank you. 

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