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A National Calling - Armadale Deployment December 2009

As the local fire season was starting to wind down in December; a number of deployments of QLD Rurals into NSW commenced. On the 17th of December, 25 South East Queensland Rurals from areas between the north coast hinterland, down to the Gold Coast hinterland were deployed to Armidale. The deployment included three members from Ripley Valley RFB; Gary, Brian and George. The deployment was aimed at giving the local NSW RFS guys a break who had been battling numerous large fires for over six weeks in the New England Ranges area.

A jet was chartered to get the crews down with the flight being an adventure in it's own right, but that's another story.

As we approached Armidale; several bushfires in remote National Parks became visible. Most of the fires had been started by lightning strikes and most were in pretty rugged, inaccessible areas.

One of the first things we did when we arrived at the ICC at Armidale was have a good look over the NSW appliances that we were going to be using. Initially we were told that we would be using a group of Cat 9's, basically a Toyota Landcruiser light attack appliance. Gary, aka Chucka checking out the GAAM diesel pump and plumbing.

At the ICC, there were also a number of Cat 7's which were basically a Canter Medium attack appliance as well as some Cat 1's such as the Hillgrove unit which were Isuzu heavy appliances. The crews got to use these heavier units on days 2 and 3.

On day two, our first operational day; the deployment was split into two strike teams to tackle two fires burning in the Guy Forkes River National Park to the north east of Armidale. The first team was given a number of NSW Parks and Wildlife appliances and sent out to the Maidens Creek area. The second team went out in the Cat 9's to the Humbollo Hut area.

Maidens Creek is a beautiful location, dense woodlands with prominent granite boulders everywhere. Working with NSW Parks and Wildlife crews as well as a RAFT team that were being winched in by choppers into remote hot spots, the team had to complete a backburn to contain a fire that had been going for nearly a week. It had been worked on by NSW Parks and Wildlife as well as ACT Rural's previously and so the main aim was to make the area safe. Two helitack appliances with bambi buckets were available to help.

The small backburn was put in to complete the containment.

The team headed off on foot with hand tools to strengthen the southern sector, a 300 metre section of the fire line.

Any hot spots identified were broken apart and hit with water from above.

Plenty of chainsaw work bringing down candles. David from Numinbah Valley RFB hard at it.

Crews got in plenty of experience working with the choppers and the pilots did a great job with precise drops in pretty rugged and tree filled country.

1300 litres of water makes one heck of a splash.

and wet break...

A final fire ground check was then needed. Following the fire line right around the mountain proved to be quite a challenge in places and was definitely the most rugged incident location Ben from Coomera Valley RFB and I have encountered. By late afternoon, showers came to dampen the whole area and we headed back to Armidale.

Meanwhile the second strike team had been working in similar country at Humbollo Hut.

Well it used to be a hut.

Vehicle access was a little bit better but further dozer tracks were needed to contain the fire.

On day three; the whole team was brought together and assigned to NSW RFS appliances. Jeff our liaison officer was the only one who didn't need serious deodorant by this stage.

The QLD Strike Team headed northwest of Armidale to a bushfire near Inverell on Aberdeen Road.

Chucka and Brian found themselves in Kentucky 7.

The fire had been going a number of days and was basically a grass fire with a few hot spots remaining. As the crews checked the perimeter, a number of outbreaks were located and blacked out.

 

The crew compartment with hoses fitted behind the cabin in the Cat 7's allow crews to quickly mop up grass fires. Something a bit different to QLD units.

Dozers were brought in to secure the fire area and push a number of fall back breaks if needed. A plan was forming to burn out large areas of unburnt land within the fire ground to reduce the risk of further break-outs. That would be tackled the next day.

Dennis, the local Group Captain working out a plan with Tony, the QLD Strike Team leader with input from Smithy from Narangba RFB.

 

Once again, water bombing aircraft were utilised for controlling hot spots.

The crews headed back near dark for the 2 hour trip back to Armidale.

Over night, Armidale got a heap of rain. We were unsure how much the actual fire ground received and so the Strike Team assembled knowing that plans could certainly change. Some crew adjustments were made and this meant that a few more Cat 1's were taken up. George, Chucka, Marc from Samford RFB and Vince from Marburg RFB were allocated the mighty Commissioners Waters 1.

When we arrived back on location; it was confirmed that up to 40mm of rain had hit the area and there were only smoldering logs left.

Brian who currently holds the Brigade record for getting bogged found an appliance that even he couldn't get bogged; maybe...

Some of the Cat 9's were tasked with a perimeter check but they didn't get far before Troy from Rocksberg RFB found a hole.

Even with all of the rain, there were still pockets of fire in stumps and logs. It was determined that if we could eliminate all of these smokers that the incident could be wrapped up completely that day which would be a great bonus to the locals. A number of the deployment grabbed chainsaws and axes and headed bush on foot to start a full fireground black-out.

They were supported once again by two water bombers and also the New England RFS RAFT crew.

Splitting logs and makin smoke.

Once again; the pilots were spot on with their drops.

As we worked our way around the mountain, all we left was steam.

Crews had a break and had drinking water delivered by bambi bucket.

After many hours; the QLD crews met up with the NSW RAFT team and secured the fire ground.

One last drop and it was all over.

It was time to bug out.

Chucka all smiles at the end of the day having mastered driving our Cat 1.

Day 5 saw us stood down. We lined up the NSW appliances for a picture; from left Cat 9, Cat 7 single cab, Cat 7 dual cab and a Cat 1.

The team all clean.

and the last adventure of the deployment had to be once again the flight. This time round the team went home in two metro liners, sort of flying cigars with not a great deal of spare room. Still it was better than driving!

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