This blog is for the NSW Rural Fire Service, Blue Mountains District. Every time an incident update or public information message is issued, it will also be displayed on this blog.
21 September 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Information on fire activity in the Blue Mountains area
20 September 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] 10:00hrs Fire Update 20/09/2011 - Leura
- A ‘Watch and Act’ advice is current for this fire. There is a heightened level of threat.
- Well prepared and actively defended houses can offer safety during a fire.
- Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family and follow your Bushfire Survival Plan
- If your life is at risk call triple zero (000) immediately.
- Updates on this fire are also available at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or by calling call 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737)
- For information on road conditions or closures, please call the NSW RTA on 131 700 or check www.rta.nsw.gov.au. Remember roads may be closed without warning.
- For information on closures of National Parks associated with this fire, please visit www.npws.nsw.gov.au
- If you need to report a new fire or require urgent assistance, dial Triple Zero (000).
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Fire update: Olympian Parade, Leura
Crews from NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire & Rescue NSW remain on-scene at the bushfire that started yesterday afternoon near Olympian Parade at Leura. There is currently no property under threat.
A "Watch and Act" advice is current for this fire.
Conditions may be changing. Continue to monitor the situation and follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan.
There are currently 12 fire trucks in and around Olympian Parade, prepared to provide property protection to local homes should the fire activity increase.
A helicopter reconnisance will be launching at approximately 07:00am this morning to overfly the fire and provide ground crews with a more detailed picture of what the fire is or may be doing.
The weather forecast for today includes very strong winds, which have the potential to increase fire activity. Naturally firefighters will remain on-scene and prepared should this happen.
Fire Behaviour:
• Variable based on local conditions
Fire Intensity:
• Fires can be controlled
• Spot fires can occur close to the main fire
Fire Impact:
• Loss of life unlikely and damage to property will be limited
• Well prepared and actively defended houses can offer safety during a fire
Under these conditions, fires can be difficult to control. Embers may be blown ahead of the fire, creating spot fires. These spot fires may threaten your home earlier than the predicted main fire front.
Other information
• If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
• Continue to stay up to date with the bush fire situation by checking http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au<http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/>, listening to your local radio station or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.
• If you live in the area but are away from home, it may not be safe to return to your property.
The next update on this fire will be issued by 10:00am or if the situation changes.
Regards,
Eric
Inspector Eric Berry
Community Safety Officer
NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
Blue Mountains District
Cnr Valley and Bathurst Roads
Katoomba NSW 2780
T: 02 4784 7444
M: 0414 195 615
F: 02 4784 7461
www.rfs.nsw.gov.au<http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au>
www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au<http://www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au>
16 September 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Prescribed Burn Advice for 16 September 2011
There will be two Hazard Reduction burns taking place that will be visible from the Blue Mountains during today.
The first is in the Wild Dog Mountains, to the south of Katoomba. Smoke will be clearly visible from Katoomba when looking between Mount Solitary and Narrow Neck. National Parks & NSW Rural Fire Service crews will be in attendance throughout the day. Map at http://tinyurl.com/3zcovbo to see where the Wild Dogs are in relation to you.
Another is in the Mulgoa area, down in the Cumberland Zone. http://tinyurl.com/6zeqvbh for a map of where Mulgoa is in relation to the rest of the Mountains.
There will also be additional burns taking place over the weekend and into next week, weather permitting. For further details, visit our website www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au and select "Blue Mountains District News" from the left-side menu.
You can also keep up-to-date with the latest by following us on twitter (@ruralfirebm) or our facebook page (http://tinyurl.com/rfs-bm-facebook).
For any and all other enquiries, give us a call at the District Office on 02 4784 7444
Stay safe,
Eric.
Inspector Eric Berry
Community Safety Officer
NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
Blue Mountains District
Cnr Valley and Bathurst Roads
Katoomba NSW 2780
T: 02 4784 7444
M: 0414 195 615
F: 02 4784 7461
05 September 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Prescribed Burn Advice for 6 September 2011 - Megalong Valley
- Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering homes
- Keep outdoor furniture under cover to prevent ember burns
- Retract pool covers to prevent ember damage
- Remove washing from clotheslines
- Ensure pets have a protected area
- If you are driving a vehicle, slow down, keep windows up and turn headlights on
- If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities. If smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice
01 September 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Correction
Prescribed burn advice for 3 September 2011 - Warrimoo
- Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering homes
- Keep outdoor furniture under cover to prevent ember burns
- Retract pool covers to prevent ember damage
- Remove washing from clotheslines
- Ensure pets have a protected area
- If you are driving a vehicle, slow down, keep windows up and turn headlights on
- If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities. If smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice
18 July 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] New HeatBeat Radio Podcast
11 July 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] New Heatbeat
04 July 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Strange emails
03 July 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Variety Update
There are still appeals from all Emergency Services for motorists to exercise extreme caution following a terrible day on the roads today (Saturday).
The Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains was blocked and slowed by a large number of crashes today, as motorists battled through torrential rain and heavy fog. The F3 freeway was also the scene of 15 crashes by lunctime today!
Further intermittent rain is forecast for Sunday, with possible afternoon thunderstorms.
Please take care on the roads and remember to drive with your headlights on when visibility is reduced.
I can also confirm that the NSW Rural Fire Service is running a special competition during the Royal Easter Show. Take a photo of any NSWRFS involvement at the Show, send it in and you could win a prize (and maybe even see your photo published in The Bushfire Bulletin)
You can send your entry by email to media@rfs.nsw.gov.au - the prize is a secret. Good luck to everyone who enters!
Finally, 3 New podcasts will be on our website on Monday.
Don't forget you can also follow us on Twitter - @ruralfirebm or go to www.twitter.com/ruralfirebm
This email is sent on behalf of the NSW Rural Fire Service, Blue Mountains District.
20 April 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Podcasts and more!
13 April 2011
Prescribed Burn (HR) Notification
- Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering homes
- Keep outdoor furniture under cover to prevent ember burns
- Retract pool covers to prevent ember damage
- Remove washing from clotheslines
- Ensure pets have a protected area
- Vehicles must slow down, keep windows up, turn headlights on
- Sightseers must keep away from burns for their own safety
- If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities if smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice
22 March 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] New Podcast Online & Radio Show reminder
21 March 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Bad weather continuing
Heavy rain, possible storms and heavy fog will continue to impact the Mountains and Greater Sydney Area this afternoon and overnight. Severe flooding has impacted the Illawarra area south of Sydney this afternoon.
Emergency Services are urging residents and motorists to exercise extreme caution, especially when driving.
For life-threatening emergencies call '000' immediately.
For assistance with rain or storm damage, contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500.
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You can now follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/ruralfirebm
This email is sent on behalf of the NSW Rural Fire Service, Blue Mountains District.
19 March 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Incident Notification - Search and Rescue at Mt Wilson
14 March 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] HeatBeat Podcasts now online
We're delighted to announce the return of our HeatBeat Radio Podcasts. To add even more enjoyment, we've uploaded three new podcasts for your listening pleasure!
The podcasts are from our regular radio session with Mark and Sammi Horton on BLU-FM 89.1 every Wednesday from 8:30-9:00am. Listen in as Insp. Eric Berry chats with Mark about all kinds of bushfire and safety-related matters in plain, easy-to-understand language. Fresh, insightful and entertaining listening for everyone!
The shows are as follows:
HeatBeat Radio Podcast 01 - Wed 16 February 2011 - Why do we need to burn sometimes and not others
HeatBeat Radio Podcast 02 - Wed 02 March 2011 - New research findings about the bushfire history of Australia
HeatBeat Radio Podcast 03 - Wed 09 March 2011 - Bushfire Myths and Facts
Find our new podcast section by visiting http://www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ and select "New Podcasts" from the menu at the left of your screen, or you can go direct via this short link: http://tinyurl.com/RFS-Podcasts.
This week (Wed 16 March 2011) we'll be discussing some new projects in the Mountains. One is bushfire risk, property protection, access and strategic bushfire containment options from Blackheath to Hawkesbury Heights along the northern fringes of the settlements. The other is assessing Essential and Important Fire Trails throughout the Blue Mountains with a view to ensuring that the fire trails are properly maintained to allow safe access and egress by trimming overhanging or overgrown vegetation, on existing trails only.
Tune in from 8:30am this Wednesday to BLU-FM 89.1 or look out for the next podcast, coming out by the end of this week.
I hope you enjoy listening to the podcasts and, as always, welcome your feedback or suggestions, along with requests or ideas about subjects you'd like to see covered in future episodes.
Also, you can now follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/ruralfirebm (or @ruralfirebm) will notify you of all updates sent to this email list, along with a shortened URL to follow for the whole story.
Stay safe,
Eric.
07 March 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] HeatBeat and BluFM this week!
01 March 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] total fire ban update 7am
Based on an treated weather forecast for hot and windy conditions, At 7am this morning a TOTAL FIRE BAN has been declared for the Greater Sydney Area, including the Blue Mountains.
28 February 2011
[rfs-bluemountains-information] Severe Thunderstorm Warning - 28 Feb - 14:40hrs
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