27 October 2009

Update: Red Ridge Trail Fire 11:00AM 27/10/09

From the Public Liaison Officer Blue Mountains Fire Control Centre.
From today, unless there is a significant increase in fire activity, Updates will be issued once per day.
http://bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=724
Overview
Light rain has fallen over the fire-ground overnight and today assisting the crews by reducing fire activity. The rain is expected to ease later in the day. Crews are mopping up any heavy fuels that are still burning and strengthening containment lines. NSW Rural Fire Service Volunteers from Tumut, Goulburn, Lake George and Lower Hunter are supporting local crews.
The fire has burnt approximately 670 hectares of isolated and rugged bush-land in the area around Red Ridge Fire Trail, approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls. The fire is burning to the east of Kings Tableland Road. Generally under these conditions there is no immediate danger to your life and fires can be easily controlled. The fire is not contained at this stage.
Strategy
60 firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service will be working on the fire today, including remote area firefighting teams. These crews will use the mild weather conditions to their advantage, to continue to directly attack the fire edge, prior to warmer predicted weather conditions later in the week.
Due to the fire activity, Kings Tablelands Road has been closed at Queen Victoria Hospital. Closures within the southern side of Blue Mountains National Park include both Ingar and Murphy's Glen Picnic and Camping areas. All walking trails in the northern side of the Blue Mountains National Park remain open.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Morning Rain. Temperature up to 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with S/SE winds around 25kph.
Wednesday: Dry, Maximum temperature 20 degrees. Humidity 40% with E winds around 20kph
Thursday: Little if any rain, Maximum temperature 20 degrees. Humidity 45% with ESE winds around 20kph
Specific Fire Information
In Low to Moderate conditions, terrain is more likely to affect fire behavior than weather conditions, which may cause an increase in fire intensity. Check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regular updates about the fire. Being prepared this bush fire season is an important part of protecting your family and home from the impacts of bush fires. A key to being prepared is to understand the level of bush fire risk you and your property are exposed to and the ways you can reduce this risk. The NSW Rural Fire Service website has wide range of bush fire related information for members of the community.
Prepare, Act, Survive.
Authorized By: Tom Shirt - Incident Controller

26 October 2009

Fire update Red Ridge Fire - 7:00pm 26 Oct 09

Good evening
Please find enclosed, the update for the Red Ridge Fire.
The map previously sent this morning still applies as no new fire has been introduced into the area
due to the constant light rain today.

Kind Regards
Gilly
Gillian Kearney
Public Liaison Officer
Blue Mountains IMT-Red Ridge Fire
(02) 4784 7444

Community Update-Red Ridge Fire

http://bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_info.cfm?CON_ID=8498&CAT_ID=76
Overview
Light rain has been falling on the fire-ground today seeing a decrease in fire activity. Despite this rain, the fire is expected to burn for several days and crews have remained in the field overnight, strengthening and deepening containment lines. There is no property under threat.
The fire has burned approximately 650 hectares of isolated and rugged bush-land in the area around Red Ridge Fire Trail, approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls. The fire is burning to the east of Kings Tableland Road. Generally under these conditions there is no immediate danger to your life and fires can be easily controlled. The fire is not contained at this stage.
Strategy
Light ran has fallen over the fire-ground overnight and today making conditions for ground crews difficult. The rain is expected to ease and clear later in the day, allowing crews to continue mopping up any heavy fuels that are still burning. Firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service will be working on the fire today, including Remote Area Firefighting Teams (RAFT) . These crews will use the mild weather conditions to their advantage, to continue to directly attack the fire edge, prior to warmer predicted weather conditions later in the week.
Due to the fire activity, Kings Tablelands Road has been closed at Queen Victoria Hospital. Closures within the southern side of Blue Mountains National Park include both Ingar and Murphy's Glen Picnic and Camping areas. All walking trails in the northern side of the Blue Mountains National Park remain open.
People with respiratory conditions such as asthma and other breathing illnesses, should take precautions and remain indoors where possible. For further information visit http://www.nsw.health.gov.au/<http://www.nsw.health.gov.au/>. Motorists driving through the Blue Mountains should exercise caution due to smoke in the area.
Weather Forecast
Today: Morning Rain. Maximum temperature 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with SE winds around 40kph.
Tuesday: Morning Rain. Temperature up to 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with S/SE winds around 25kph.
Wednesday: Dry, Maximum temperature 20 degrees. Humidity 40% with E winds around 20kph
Specific Fire Information
In Low to Moderate conditions, terrain is more likely to affect fire behavior than weather conditions, which may cause an increase in fire intensity. Check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regular updates about the fire.
Authorized By: Superintendent Ted Williams - Incident Controller
This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) and contains information which may be confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete this email and any copies or
links to this email completely and immediately from your system. Views expressed in this message are
those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

25 October 2009

Update: Red Ridge Trail Fire 7:00PM 25/10/09

http://bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_info.cfm?CON_ID=8490&CAT_ID=76
Overview
Light rain has been falling on the fireground today seeing a decrease in fire activity. Despite this rain, the fire is expected to burn for several days and crews remain in the field, strengthening and deepening containment lines. There is no property under threat.
The fire has burned approximately 600 hectares of isolated and rugged bushland in the area around Red Ridge Fire Trail, approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls. The fire is burning to the east of Kings Tableland Road. Generally under these conditions there is no immediate danger to your life and fires can be easily controlled. The fire is not contained at this stage.
Strategy
There is further potential rain forecast for Monday. Approximately 60 firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service will be working on the fire on Monday, including Remote Area Firefighting Teams. Crews will use the mild weather conditions to their advantage to directly attack the fire edge prior to warmer predicted weather conditions later in the week.
Due to the fire activity, Kings Tablelands Road has been closed at Queen Victoria Hospital. Closures within the southern side of Blue Mountains National Park include both Ingar and Murphy's Glen Picnic and Camping areas. Walking trails in the northern side of the Blue Mountains National Park remain open.
People with breathing illnesses should take precautions, such as staying indoors. Motorists driving through the Blue Mountains should exercise caution due to smoke in the area.
Weather Forecast
Monday: Morning Rain. Maximum temperature 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with SE winds around 40kph.
Tuesday: Morning Rain. Temperature up to 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with S/SE winds around 25kph.
Wednesday: Dry, Maximum temperature 20 degrees. Humidity 40% with E winds around 20kph
Specific Fire Information
In Low to Moderate conditions terrain is more likely to affect fire behaviour than weather conditions, which may cause an increase in fire intensity. Check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regular updates about the fire.
Authorised By: Tom Shirt - Incident Controller
This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) and contains information which may be confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete this email and any copies or
links to this email completely and immediately from your system. Views expressed in this message are
those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Update: Red Ridge Trail Fire - 11:00 25/10/2009

Overnight conditions have been calm with little wind and moderate temperatures. Crews worked throughout the night to strengthen containment lines. The Red Ridge Fire, approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls is burning in an easterly direction, away from Kings Tableland Road. The fire is not contained at this stage.
There is currently no property under threat. The fire has burned approximately 600 hectares of bushland.
Generally under these conditions there is no immediate danger to your life and fires can be easily controlled.
100 NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers and National Parks & Wildlife Service firefighters are continuing to strengthen and secure containment lines around the fires edge today.
Strategy
Crews will use mild weather conditions to their advantage to aggressively mop up along Kings Tableland Road and Andersons Fire Trail. Aircraft will continue to water bomb the eastern and southern edges. Remote area firefighters will work on inaccessible parts of the fires edge.
Due to current fire activity Kings Tablelands Road has been closed at Queen Victoria Hospital. Closures within the southern side of Blue Mountains National Park include both Ingar & Murphy's Glen Picnic and Camping areas. Walking trails in the northern side of the Blue Mountains National Park remain open.
People with breathing illnesses should take precautions, such as staying indoors. Motorists driving through the Blue Mountains should exercise caution due to smoke in the area.
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Rain Periods. Temperatures reaching 16 degrees with E/SE winds.
Monday: Morning Rain. Maximum temperature 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with SE winds around 40kph.
Tuesday: Morning Rain. Temperature up to 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with S/SE winds around 25kph.
Specific Fire Information
In Low to Moderate conditions terrain is more likely to affect fire behaviour than weather conditions, which may cause an increase in fire intensity. Check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regular updates about the fire.
Authorised By: Tom Shirt - Incident Controller
This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) and contains information which may be confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete this email and any copies or
links to this email completely and immediately from your system. Views expressed in this message are
those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

24 October 2009

Update: Red Ridge Trail Fire 7:00PM 24/10/09

http://bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_info.cfm?CON_ID=8486&CAT_ID=76
There is a fire burning in the area of Red Ridge Fire Trail, approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls. There is no property under threat.
The fire is burning in an easterly direction, away from Kings Tableland Road. There is currently no property under threat. The fire has burned approximately 540 hectares of bushland.
Generally under these conditions there is no immediate danger to your life and fires can be controlled. Spot fires can occur close to the main fire.
A Section 44 Declaration has been made for the Blue Mountains Local Government Area, and part of the Wollondilly Local Government Area (north of Lake Burragorang).
80 NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers and National Parks & Wildlife Service firefighters have progressed well with backburning operations along the Andersons Fire Trail. Crews will be mopping up and continue to work on containment lines throughout the night. The fire is not contained at this stage.
Strategy
Fire crews will continue to work on containment lines tomorrow supported by aircraft to water bomb the eastern and southern edges of the fire and to assist remote area firefighters to work on containment lines.
Due to current fire activity Kings Tablelands Road has been closed at Queen Victoria Hospital. Closures within the southern side of Blue Mountains National Park include both Ingar & Murphy's Glen Picnic and Camping areas. Walking trails in the northern side of the Blue Mountains National Park remain open.
People with breathing illnesses should take precautions, such as staying indoors. Motorists driving through the Blue Mountains should exercise caution due to smoke in the area.
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Rain Periods. Temperatures reaching 20 degrees with SE winds.
Monday: Morning Rain. Maximum temperature 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with SE winds around 40kph.
Tuesday: Morning Rain. Temperature up to 15 degrees. Humidity 60% with S/SE winds around 25kph.

Specific Fire Information
Check that your Bush Fire Survival Plan is up-to-date. If you don't have a Bush Fire Survival Plan, ensure you know what you will do if the fire does threaten your property. If you plan to leave – leave early.
Watch and Act represents a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing; start taking action now to
protect you and your family.
Check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regular updates about the fire.
This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) and contains information which may be confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete this email and any copies or
links to this email completely and immediately from your system. Views expressed in this message are
those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Update: Red Ridge Trail Fire 10:00 24/10/09

Overview
There is a fire burning in the area of Red Ridge Fire Trail, approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls. The
fire is burning in an easterly direction, away from Kings Tableland Road. There is currently no property under
threat.
The fire has burned approximately 500 hectares of bushland. Generally under these conditions there is no
immediate danger to your life and fires can be controlled. Spot fires can occur close to the main fire.
Strategy
80 NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks & Wildlife Service firefighters and waterbombing aircraft are
working to contain the fire. Backburning operations are taking place on the Andersons Fire Trail.
Due to current fire activity Kings Tablelands road has been closed at Queen Victoria Hospital. Closures within
the southern side of Blue Mountains National Park include both Ingar & Murphy's Glen Picnic and Camping
areas.
People with breathing illnesses should take precautions, such as staying indoors. Motorists driving through the
Blue Mountains should exercise caution due to smoke in the area.
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Fine and sunny. Light winds tending light from the east and may alternate between light west to light
east during the day. Temperatures reaching 26 degrees with humidity dropping to around 23%.
Sunday: Rain Periods in the afternoon. Temperatures reaching 20 degrees with SSE winds up to 40km/h.
Monday: Slight chance of morning rain decreasing with fresh-to-strong SE winds (up to 50km/h)
Specific Fire Information
Check that your Bush Fire Survival Plan is up-to-date. If you don't have a Bush Fire Survival Plan, ensure you
know what you will do if the fire does threaten your property. If you plan to leave – leave early.
Watch and Act represents a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing; start taking action now to
protect you and your family. Check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regularly for updates about the fire.
Authorised By: Tom Shirt - Incident Controller
This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) and contains information which may be confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete this email and any copies or
links to this email completely and immediately from your system. Views expressed in this message are
those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

23 October 2009

Update: Red Ridge Trail Fire - 7:00pm 23/10/09

See http://bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ for latest map of the fire location.

A fire is currently burning 10km South of Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains National Park. At 6pm this evening the fire was estimated to be 456 hectares in size. The fire is moving slowly to the east under mild weather conditions.



Current Activities
45 firefighters, 10 firefighting appliances and 3 helicopters have been combating the fire this afternoon. Additional crews will be deployed to the fire overnight to monitor fire activity and undertake construction of containment lines. Two bulldozers are also being brought in by the National Parks Service to strengthen containment lines.

Weather Conditions


Current weather conditions are mild. Moderate winds are coming from the West, swinging to the South-West. Overnight temperatures are predicted to fall to around 13 Degrees C, with winds moving more to the south around midnight.


For Saturday, temperatures are forecast to rise to 26 Degrees C in the afternoon, with South to South-West winds turning Westerly after lunchtime, with the chance of a shower or two.

Proposed Containment Strategy

Backburning is being undertaken this evening along the northern flank of the fire. This may create some more smoke and possibly a visible glow in the sky to the south.


Fire Incident at Red Ridge


Fire crews assisting with a prescribed burn south of Wentworth Falls this afternoon have been called to attend a separate fire near Red Ridge Fire Trail, off Kings Tableland Road, south of Wentworth Falls.

Additional firefighting resources are currently responding to the scene to assist. Whilst the fire is not contained, there is currently no threat to property. The cause of the fire is currently listed as being suspicious and Fire Investigators will be attending the scene shortly.

Regards,
Eric.


 

Small Prescribed Burn south of Wentworth Falls


The National Parks and Wildlife Service, along with one crew from the NSW Rural Fire Service, are currently undertaking a small prescribed burn approximately 10km south of Wentworth Falls, along Kings Tableland. The operation should be completed by late afternoon.

Some smoke may be visible in the area.

21 October 2009

Update - Lapstone Fire 12.45 21/10/09

Good Afternoon.
Fire crews have now extinguished the fire adjacent to Lapstone railway station.
Rail services have resumed.
No further updates will be issued for this fire.
Regards,
Eric.

Fire at Lapstone - 11:45am 21/10/09


Good Morning,

Crews from the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Fire Brigades are currently attending a bushfire adjacent to Lapstone Railway Station.

Trains have been stopped to enable safe access for fire crews to the scene.

There is currently no threat to any property.

Regards,

Eric


Inspector Eric J Berry
Community Safety Officer
Blue Mountains District
NSW Rural Fire Service



 

14 October 2009

Update- Yellow Rock

Good Afternoon.
The fire at Yellow Rock has been contained, units are now blacking out the area and will be standing down soon.
No further updates are expected.

Fire at Yellow Rock

Good Afternoon,
Fire appliances are currently attending a bushfire at the end of Singles Ridge Road at Yellow Rock.
There is currently no immediate threat to property, however residents in the area are advised to remain vigilant.

10 October 2009

Help find Andrew

Friends,
In the past we have mentioned the global search for Andrew John Thompson, the son of NSW Fire Brigades Assistant Commissioner Ken Thompson.
A new video urging action via social networking site myspace on international parental child abductions has just been released, featuring Andrew's case, which I have now added to our Updates blog.
I urge you to visit the blog today, view the video, read Andrew's story and spread the word.
Visit ruralfirebm.blogspot.com today and help us find Andrew.
Regards,
Eric.
P.S. You can also visit http://www.findandrew.com/ for additional information.

International Parental Child Abductions

Andrew John THOMPSON, now aged four, was abducted from Australia on 24th April 2008 by his mother Melinda Margaret THOMPSON (also known as Melinda Margaret STRATTON).




Friends, I bring this information to you as part of the ongoing search for Andrew. His father, Ken, is an Assistant Commissioner in the NSW Fire Brigades and a long-standing colleague of ours. I know Ken personally (albeit slightly) and I can assure you this is a genuine case - not an internet hoax.
I have shared the experience of a former spouse relocating overseas with two of my children, but unlike Ken, I now have the fortune of knowing their whereabouts and being in regular contact with them. Brother Ken, on the other hand, has no such comfort and I do not pretend to have even a close understanding of the anguish that he has been going through since Andrew was abducted in April 2008.
I encourage each and every one of you to take just a moment of your day to visit the Find Andrew Website, make yourself familiar with this case and share the word around the world as we all join the campaign to reunite Andrew and Ken.
Ken has recently started collaborating with Stephen Watkins from Canada, who has a similar situation, to raise awareness of international parental child abductions. One part of this is the production of a short video. The video is embedded below.
Please help Stephen, Ken and their children by watching the video and then forwarding the link to as many people as possible in as many countries as possible. The direct link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGvHQYrAZqM.


Regards,
Eric

07 October 2009

Weather Advice

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Light rain and small hail (or frozen rain smaller than pea-size) is currently falling around Katoomba as the cold front continues to move through the area. Further light falls are possible through the rest of the afternoon.

Residents are advised to take care on the roads and reduce speed in wet conditions.

Regards,

Eric

P.S. Almost everyone is now migrated to the new Google Groups email list. If you are receiving this message more than once, or do not wish to receive these updates, please contact me by email at: eric.berry@rfs.nsw.gov.au.


02 October 2009

New video clips - Prepare, Act, Survive.

Good Afternoon Everyone,

The NSW Rural Fire Service has now released a new series of TV Advertisements about the new Fire Danger Ratings and the "Prepare, Act, Survive" campaign. You can view the videos by going to the following page on our website, then click on the top item, where the videos are linked from YouTube.


These videos are now also able to be viewed on YouTube under "NSWRFS".

Regards,

Eric

Inspector Eric J Berry
Community Safety Officer
Blue Mountains District
NSW Rural Fire Service


Thunderstorm advice


Hi Everyone,

A thunderstorm is currently building overhead at Katoomba and is moving east down the Mountains. There are currently multiple lightning strikes and patches of heavy rain.

No severe storm warning has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology at this time, however the storm is gathering intensity minute-by-minute.

Regards,

Eric


Inspector Eric J Berry
Community Safety Officer
Blue Mountains District
NSW Rural Fire Service


01 October 2009

Afternoon Update 16:00 - All calm


Good Afternoon,

There is currently no bushfire activity in the Blue Mountains District.

I'm not going to use the "Q" word, but so far, so good.

The only incident today was a small grass fire at Lawson, believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette butt. Nearby road workers quickly contained the fire prior to the arrival of NSW Fire Brigades and NSW Rural Fire Service units, which were on the scene within minutes of the call being received.

Additionally,
  • This morning firefighters from Medlow Bath, Blaxland and Lawson Brigades have been deployed to Taree for up to 5 days.
  • 3 Air Base operators are flying north this morning out of Bankstown airport to assist in the air base management in the same area.
  • Two of our Communications operators were deployed to Tuncurry on Monday and should be returning home soon.

Regards,
Eric


Inspector Eric J Berry
Community Safety Officer
Blue Mountains District
NSW Rural Fire Service