'Superhuman' effort underway to battle huge fire in WA's Kimberley
kiwijims said
07:58 PM Oct 11, 2016
Firefighters, Aboriginal rangers and pastoralists are pulling together to try to manage a huge out-of-control bushfire ranging across almost 1 million hectares of remote country in WA's north.
The fire has been burning for two weeks across cattle stations on both sides of the Gibb River Road in the central Kimberley, and those on the ground say the lack of sealed roads, mobile coverage and supplies is making for a gruelling firefighting effort.
Felix McQuistin from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services spoke to the ABC from the scene.
"The guys on the ground are doing an amazing job, and to have held the fire where they have is pretty much a superhuman effort," he said.
"The fire is very big and there's a lot of area that's been burnt, unfortunately probably more country than we've seen burnt in a long time."
The fire was started last month by a lighting strike. The region's rough terrain and sparse population means large blazes are often monitored, but not contained.
K.J.
jules47 said
08:00 PM Oct 11, 2016
Well done by these brave men and women !!!
Tony Bev said
08:53 PM Oct 11, 2016
ditto to jules47 post
aussietraveller said
09:02 PM Oct 11, 2016
an outstanding effort so far we wish them a safe quick win on this one based on the size its going to tale more than a sky crane or two. We will be thinking of you all as you fight this giant.
brickies said
09:15 PM Oct 11, 2016
Pray for rain
Bushpie said
10:07 PM Oct 11, 2016
brickies wrote:
Pray for rain
Yep brickies thats the only thing they can do .......apart from protect imeadiate property the terrain makes it impossible to deal with.
I was involved with a station that had an unfortunate fire go up back in 2000. and something was a sight to behold.......
meetoo said
10:11 PM Oct 11, 2016
Needs one of the cyclones mentiond two threads back. Would be handy right about now.
Cheers, John.
kiwijims said
08:18 PM Oct 12, 2016
This fire is a good one alright, 1.000.000 HA gone so far and it's still going,
Have a look at how many Stations are now involved in fighting it......
The fire is burning on Gibb River Station, Mount Elizabeth Station, Drysdale River Station, Ellenbrae Station and Kurinji Station, near the Gibb River Road and Kalumburu Road intersection.
It is burning on both sides of Kalumburu Road.
K.J.
Dunmowin said
06:32 PM Oct 14, 2016
That is so scary. There were scrub fires at the intersection GRR and Kalumbaru Road when we were there a few years back, that was scary enough.
Firefighters, Aboriginal rangers and pastoralists are pulling together to try to manage a huge out-of-control bushfire ranging across almost 1 million hectares of remote country in WA's north.
The fire has been burning for two weeks across cattle stations on both sides of the Gibb River Road in the central Kimberley, and those on the ground say the lack of sealed roads, mobile coverage and supplies is making for a gruelling firefighting effort.
Felix McQuistin from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services spoke to the ABC from the scene.
"The guys on the ground are doing an amazing job, and to have held the fire where they have is pretty much a superhuman effort," he said.
"The fire is very big and there's a lot of area that's been burnt, unfortunately probably more country than we've seen burnt in a long time."
The fire was started last month by a lighting strike. The region's rough terrain and sparse population means large blazes are often monitored, but not contained.
K.J.
Yep brickies thats the only thing they can do .......apart from protect imeadiate property the terrain makes it impossible to deal with.
I was involved with a station that had an unfortunate fire go up back in 2000. and something was a sight to behold.......
Needs one of the cyclones mentiond two threads back. Would be handy right about now.
Cheers, John.
This fire is a good one alright, 1.000.000 HA gone so far and it's still going,
Have a look at how many Stations are now involved in fighting it......
K.J.
That is so scary. There were scrub fires at the intersection GRR and Kalumbaru Road when we were there a few years back, that was scary enough.
Hope there are no Grey Nomads stranded out there.