ACT RFS crews have been on the ground containing three separate fires in Namadgi National Park. Photo: Supplied/ESA.
The ACT Rural Fire Service’s Chief Officer is confident the three bushfires in Namadgi National Park will be out before heatwave conditions envelop the Capital later this week.
Chief Officer Rohan Scott told Region that as of Monday (5 January), the two fires at Cotter Hut and the additional one near Bendora Dam had no active flames, and work was continuing to have them consolidated before the weather warmed up markedly.
“They are not large fires, but potentially they could have been quite severe,” he said.
“[It’s been] a combination of the good crews’ hard work, and the aircrafts supporting them.”
The Cotter 1 fire is about 7.5 hectares in size, Cotter 2 is roughly 0.2 ha, and the Bendora Dam blaze has burned about 3.5 ha.
Twelve firefighters have been allocated to each fire on the ground, given the tough terrain and difficulties accessing the sites.
“It’s very, very difficult terrain to work in,” Mr Scott said.
“[The Cotter Hut area] is very steep with a lot of rocks and vegetation. They’ve had to be helicoptered in … it was the only way they could get there.”
Given the water-access issues for these two fires, the crews are using dry firefighting techniques — such as brushcutters, rake hoes and chainsaws — to help reduce the risk.
A different approach was taken to take firefighters to the Bendora Dam fire, which was burning about 100 metres from the dam’s water level.
“SES boats transported all the crew and equipment from the dam wall, up the river, and then they all exited [the boats] to walk to the fire,” Mr Scott said.
“That’s the beauty of having all of us [the emergency services] under one agency … it’s a simple phone call to get everything activated.”
It’s believed all three fires were the result of dry lightning that flashed over Canberra on Saturday (3 January).
Canberra’s four fire towers are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which not only detect fires but help track smoke columns and smoke drift.
Over a 24-hour period, about 7500 lightning strikes were detected across the ACT and the surrounding NSW areas on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, that resulted in three ignitions, but with that amount [of strikes] we were pretty lucky,” Mr Scott said.
The Firebird 100 is also equipped with an AI infrared camera that can see through smoke and allow for incredibly accurate pictures of a fire front.
Its geolocation technology also assists with waterbombing exercises and directing ground crews to hotspots that could be covered by debris and ash.
The Chief Officer said although AI was extremely useful, it was just an additional tool for firefighters.
“At the end of the day, we still need those ground crews to do that hard work.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that a “prolonged period” of heat is set to build from today, with the mercury expected to peak mid to late this week.
The week is starting off with maximum temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s, and overnight minimum temperatures in the mid-teens to low 20s, but this will build.
“The severe to extreme heatwave will peak later this week, with maximum temperatures reaching the high 30s and overnight minimum temperatures around the high teens to low 20s,” the BoM stated.
“The heatwave is expected to ease over the weekend as a southwest to southeasterly change brings milder temperatures.”
Mr Scott said the firefighting teams were conscious of the incoming weather and planned to have the fires fully consolidated before temperatures peaked.
“We’re very confident that will happen.”
Canberrans are being reminded to ensure they have a bushfire survival plan ready and to head to the ESA website for more information about active fires.
ACT Health has advice on how to keep safe during heatwaves.
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
