Katoomba Monthly Temp average set to be SMASHED!!! AGAIN!!!

A similar web site can be found on the TFS web site in Tassie. I have been involved in fuel reduction burning at various levels for many years and it is unusual to get adverse feedback in relation to these burns. I my time with Parks I've never had an issue with "Greenies" protesting or trying to stop fuel reduction burns(FRB's) and that includes burns in some of our iconic National Parks. There seems to be a wide public acceptance of the need for FRB's. In my experience, the arguments that Greenies are stopping FRB's is BS. Concerns from immediate neighbours are not uncommon but are generally dealt with during the planning process.
Each burn will have its own issues and these are addressed by detailing appropriate weather conditions(wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity) fuel moisture level, ignition details and suppression resources just in case. As a result the decision on which areas to burn is made with one or two days notice based on forecast weather and resource availability. There is a limited window for fuel reduction burning, either Autumn or early Winter when the soils are no longer bone dry, but not too wet, or in spring as the soils are drying out. This window seems to be reducing with the hotter drier conditions of recent years.
In terms of protecting community asserts, its generally smaller strategic burns on the urban interface that have the greatest benefit but the work and negotiating, preparing and executing one of these is substantial. When Governments mandate FRB area targets its much easier to light large remote area from the air than small resource intense burns of a few hectares on the urban interface.
However, when faced with extreme fire weather conditions FRB's can not be relied on for protection. I've seen wildfires stopped by these fuel reduced areas and I've seen wildfires burn straight over them. They certainly have a role in protecting communities in that reducing fule allows firefighters to safely operate under a greater range of weather conditions but FRB's are not a silver bullet and not the solution to our problems the some sections of the media would have us believe.

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Originally Posted by tony_A

... but FRB's are not a silver bullet and not the solution to our problems the some sections of the media would have us believe.

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Something does not have to be a "silver bullet" to contribute to a favorable outcome. Further back in the thread someone said water bombing aircraft are not a silver bullet either. Fireys on the ground in trucks aren't silver bullets either. Nothing else in the arsenal of tools used to prevent and fight fires is a silver bullet either.

It's a matter of utilizing the strengths of all these "not silver bullets" to achieve the best outcome and that means before, during and after the fire. They all have a time and a place. Trouble is there's too much bickering and arguing about what is right ans what is wrong to let it be managed properly. If only the same energy and enthusiasm as they use in arguing was used for fire prevention and management there would not be as much of a problem.

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Originally Posted by AlexS

Some people are just efwits.

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I didn't know that there was a special electronic category of them.

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Originally Posted by AlexS

Prior to a weekend of planned FR burns in a number of areas around Sydney last year, the RFS publicised that they would be happening, at least on the ABC. That didn't stop people ringing up to complain, some saying that if you live near the bush you should be prepared to put up with bushfires.

Some people are just efwits.

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Alex

I have heard this line of thinking before. The last time I queried whether the person felt the same way towards flood victims too. That quietened him a little. I could have added the victims of cyclones as well. Then there is drought and towns running out of water. We are not always a compassionate nation unfortunately.

Regards
Paul

Someone asked about Canberra smoke.

For direct comparison I've no way of knowing how bad others have had it, but it has been continuous here. Some days it has been severe and dense. It tends to come and go to an extent, but I cant really recall a day in the last few weeks which was clear. It would be easy to describe it as "bad". Many building sites are closed due to it.

There have been many days and a lot of nights where sleeping with the windows open wasn't an option. On top of that weve had some blisteringly hot days (43° and most seem to be 30-33). The heat banking occurring in buildings must becoming a problem.

I bought the family these, just in case: Base Camp Mask plus they came with 12 spare filters. Better than nothing and better than the toys being sold by the chemists and shysters.

Nobody I know has respiratory problems, but as we woodies can all attest, a few weeks in a dusty workshop has us all hacking a long time after.... I'd imagine doctors are being asked about A Quick Fix.

On public building closures, one can be rightly cynical about the motivations of Canberras public service when it comes to excuses for time off. I'm absolutely tired of them. Actually, I'm fed up with them. I'm not a right winger, or some raving capitalist, but by golly do they as a group know how to use the system to achieve very little.

Attachment 467116

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Originally Posted by woodPixel

Someone asked about Canberra smoke.

For direct comparison I've no way of knowing how bad others have had it, but it has been continuous here. Some days it has been severe and dense. It tends to come and go to an extent, but I cant really recall a day in the last few weeks which was clear. It would be easy to describe it as "bad". Many building sites are closed due to it.

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The radio this morning reported that Melbourne had the worst air quality for any major city in the world today due to the smoke from the Gippsland fires.

I had to go to a medical appointment this morning and visibility on the Western Ring Road was about 500 metres on average. As I drove onto the Witton Bridge I could not see the other end of the bridge because of the smoke.

My Mother-in-law is staying with us at the moment as she lives near Benalla which is at risk of the fires up that way. She is a smoker but today she has been seen sitting on the back deck without a cigarette in her hand just inhaling.

We are expecting a wind change and rain tomorrow which should bring some relief.

Here is the answer to whether the Wollemei Pines survived the fires.

NSW fires: Wollemi pines saved by secret RFS firefighting mission

This was mentioned in Nature magazine! (I despise the SMH).

NASA, via The New York Times, has published a similar map for the world, showing we've just had the hottest decade on record.

Attachment 467273

The World Meteorological Association has stated 2019 was AUstralia's hottest and driest, and the second hottest for the world (2016 was the hottest).
Australia has 'hottest, driest' year on record as 2019 named second-hottest year worldwide, WMO says - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

As forecast, we are getting excellent fire dousing rain here right now! :clap2: :hpydans: :woot:

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(We are the orange/red bit above the word Camden)


So, I've changed my mind on Climate Change - it's all bullsh.

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

So, I've changed my mind on Climate Change - it's all bullsh.

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When did you become a politishun.

When the weather changed.

The Wollami Pines secret location is no longer a secret, anyone in a plane can now easily find them or someone who has advanced access to satellite imagery, the only patch of green in a burnt landscape in a deep gorge, by the same token, well done to save them.

But compare that effort to what should have been done prior and contributed to the loss of life, homes, business, agriculture, infrastructure, animals, wildlife

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Originally Posted by rwbuild

The Wollemi Pines secret location is no longer a secret, anyone in a plane can now easily find them or someone who has advanced access to satellite imagery, the only patch of green in a burnt landscape in a deep gorge, by the same token, well done to save them.

But compare that effort to what should have been done prior and contributed to the loss of life, homes, business, agriculture, infrastructure, animals, wildlife

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Agreed Ray. I was going to post that anyone who can read a topographic map could actually work it out from the picture in the Guardian (in hi-res to boot), and that's a helluva lot more people than those who can fly!

WRT your second statement - if SmoKo had shown some leadership back in....oooh, I dunno, say November....those now delayed Air Tankers would have been a) cheaper (because of the short notice fiscal penalty) and b) much more importantly HERE bloody ages ago!

I have just sent an email to adam.morton@the guardian.com and I would encourage everyone else to do the same.

"Dear Sir

The publication you work for claims to be an eponymous guardian. Yet you have just revealed the location of the Wollemi Pines, which has been secret for over 25 years.

I cannot believe the gross unthinking irresponsibility in publishing the picture of the Wollemi pines. ANYONE who can read a topographic map (and I presume that does not include yourself) can now locate them! Ask someone who knows maps how they can!

A (much) lesser group of people who can now locate them are those that have access to small aircraft - not terribly hard to spot the only green parts in a burnt wilderness.

You must take that picture down immediately for the sake of the Pines - the fires didn't get them as a result of an enormous effort, but you just might have with this foolishness! If your story was approved by NPWS or the Environment Minister then they are just as foolish!

(a very irate, and practical) Brett Furniture (:D I used my normal name)
Katoomba"