Dave 06 just watched the fires on S.A.Bales of hay going etc it looks really crook mate.Keep safe and good luck from us all at the G/N's.Cheers.Ibbo.

we're fine here, the fires are down at paskevile in a hay bale exporting company yard, apparently the 3rd in four years greed by the company made it so that they stacked too early and this fire was spontaneous combustion, the others were arson we had a couple here over the last few days but they were over the other side by warnertown, I had to change my hat a few times and grab the water truck and do some carting for the boys, nothing major that is yet to come, if any get away we are in strife pretty common place from now on, we are fine but thanks for the thoughts!!

If anything happens DaveO........can I have your watch?? and.........oh yeah............hate to ask but................if you should have a decent laptop ??

Hey I got bids on the laptop......pfffffttttttttt... reguardless....its going to be a nasty year....we been bloody lucky .with this stinker....of hot weather not to have the wind that will turn this place in to HELL!! Dave

Yeah............Onya Smokey..............Geees mate !! I get stuck with the old Timex and you get the laptop?? Hardly worth going to the funeral ?? :) How right you are about the lack of wind. It is not the season for it. These are just a couple of freaky highs that have come in and are sitting there. Crops wouldn't have been much good either if the wind had blown.

Saw the fires a few minutes ago Dave. Very glad you're not too close to that lot. Cheers, xina.

the gossip mongers on the uhf say there are about 300 fireys doing around the clock shifts in groups of fifty, they reckon it will burn for a week or two, they've already established cleared perimiters all round fighting that wouldnt be too bad, very tedious, they are going to observe and not extinguish, reckon it would take too much water, me and a couple of mates fought the ash wednesday fire, didnt think much of that, we were in the middle of it, we got to know what a chook in an oven feels like, I got to medium rare! my mate went past charcoal! I couldnt get to him! no water! there are nights I still hear him screaming! I feel for anyone who puts their lives on the line, fire or war its much the same the outcome is unknown! we lost a dozer, and a couple of appliances, couldnt save them, we had fire come up the slope as well as from both sides and down from the top, we were directed straight into the furnace by a non understanding interstate controller, I am not afraid of hell anymore, me and a couple of mates have already been there, we got the scars to prove it, to fight the stack would be a walk in the park for anyone who went through ash wednesday or black saturday! the stack owners brothers harvester burnt down the day before his haystack went up, gotta think what they did wrong, must have stepped on a fairy in another life!

Been there done that too Davo....you think after all these years..I'ld known better.than be a volly FireFighter...but I havent...Saw it on news .....quite bit area burnt around the stack....funny..how you get used to way things work here....try going interstate...Strike Teams....what should be an easy .job ..turns.into a major ..assignment....."AshWednesday"...My parents farm burnt........they saved house and sheds..but My Dad was electricuted in the process...fallen powerlines lit up the farm fences.....He spent few days in hospital... All I can say...."Think before you get your grey matter into gear....double check.what your doing.....and could it be done safer" above all else..."STAY SAFE" Dave

Where is their farm Smokey??

hah! when I hear or see a fire the old "warhorse" in me gets all excited and really feels the need to get to it, I was put out to pasture after ash wednesday with all the accompanying awards and medals as well as pomp and ceremony, all sits in a draw somewhere forgotten means nothing, sorry about your dad and your farm, a lot of propertys were lost in that time, we tried but just couldnt be everywhere, a lot of tears were shed and are still shed now, always the feeling that we could have done more if we were prepared more, I personally watched 5 houses go up that we had no hope of protecting, I held the housewives and a couple of husbands as the house and all possesions went up in smoke not nice or funny in any way shape or form we just had a little scare here but managed to get on top of it, have to get the fire extingusher on the header refilled again now, it's only a little one but by hell without it I would be looking at scorched earth by now!, our fire unit is over the ridge!

Ducky.they had a farm.between Willunga and Kuitpo Forest.......when the fire went through their farm....it hit the forest spreading from 5klm to 25klm in about 5 mins...My Dad was Capt of his CFS brigade at the time....got the news over his radio his farm was burning.........he jumped his truck....and followed a grader in to his farm..and the rest they say was history...

Davo........I've fought a lot of bushfires over the years....Pt Lincoln....Victoria...and other places.....and I'll still do it if required................headers always catch alite...and they are never near a water supply when needed.......went to 2 last year...

Dave

-- Edited by Smokeydk on Friday 13th of November 2009 06:23:54 PM

Beautiful area up there too Smokeydk. I used to deliver fuel in that area for BP many years ago when I lived in Yankalilla. i had the BP fuel agency till they did their so-called merger with Mobil. I am assuming nobody was hurt physically??

A few Range...Hope Forest boys got scorched some...My Mum wont watch the news now......AshWednesday 1983 scared her so much.......even hearing a siren..still..upsets her..My exwife was same........she couldnt understand....why I'ld put my life in danger...for ppl I've never met.....I guess its a familly thing.....We always been comunity minded.....My Dad.brother..and daughter...were all CFS members....added together we put in 70 years.. Dave

The impact that these things had on folk was indescribable. Years later they are still suffering. Mothers seem to take it harder than anyone...........probably because they are the nesters. Thank you Mums!! The essential services professionals and volunteers are the most incredible people in the world. Should be right up there in spades............. in my view. Which brigade?

I'm currently a member of Milang CFS..on Lake Alexandrina Dave

nice spot but highly flammable! be carefull!

Australia couldn't afford the volunteer people-hours if they were paid.

technically I no longer belong to the cfs but when the call goes out I'm around somewhere (dont tell anyone though not sposed to be there)