Past horror season spurs crew on

FRONT LINE: Rural firefighter Matthew Cahill prepares for a hazard-reduction burn planned for CQUniversity bushland tomorrow.

CHRIS ISON CI--

Photos

Rockhampton bushfire

View Photo Gallery »

AS rural fire volunteer Matt Cahill, 22, worked on the front line to contain a raging bushfire on Mt Archer, he watched the flames crown up into the trees over his head.

It was during last year’s horror fire season – an eye-opening experience for him.

And while they managed to get through the season, it’s not something he wants to experience again.

That’s why rural operations acting brigade support officer Gordan Ryan is urging the community to clean up now and start to reduce the dangerous dry fuel in preparation for the upcoming fire season starting in August.

To prevent a repeat of last year, Mr Ryan, who was an air attack supervisor controlling the water bombings, said controlled hazard burns of dry scrubland at CQUniversity would start tomorrow.

“We will have 12 trucks with about 40 firefighters to burn about 16 hectares of dry fuel on Saturday,” he said.

Mr Ryan said other hot spots rural crews would tackle within the next month were access one to access nine on the northern side of Yeppoon Road, Ramsay Creek to the other side of The Caves, and Marmor through to the Gracemere turnoff.

“The fire-tolerant grass is back and if we didn’t do anything now there is the potential for the same situation as last year,” he said.

While this year’s fire season wasn’t starting as early as last year, the growth was dry enough to burn off.

“It’s about 70-80 per cent cured, which means it’s lost enough moisture and is ready to burn without a problem.”

Mr Ryan said the hazard reduction burn tomorrow would give new crews a chance to learn hands-on skills from the more-experienced firefighters.

“There are slashed breaks to prevent the fire from escaping and we will team the new guys up with the experienced crews.

”Matt Cahill, who has been a volunteer with Belmont rural for the past five years, said last year’s fires helped equip him with the knowledge to put into action this year.

“I have learnt to expect the unexpected,” he said.

HOT SPOTS

Controlled hazard reduction burns in CQ are planned for:

Access one to nine on the northern side of Yeppoon Road

Ramsay Creek to the other side of The Caves on the west side of the highway

Marmor through to the Gracemere turnoff.

Read more ...

Cold water thrown on volunteer firies