Busy start to the fire season on OZ

[catseye]

This afternoon's assignments.

The following aircraft have been deployed.

Northern Tablelands S44
District: TENTERFIELD FCC Aircraft Type: B 206B
Location: TENTERFIELD FCC Callsign: FIREBIRD 290
Task: ReCon/Inc Registration: RMJ
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed: 23/09/2007 4:00:00 PM

Northern Tablelands S44
District: TENTERFIELD FCC Aircraft Type: Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger
Location: TENTERFIELD FCC Callsign: FIREBIRD 211
Task: ReCon/Bomb Registration: FHS
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed: 24/09/2007 9:30:00 AM

Northern Tablelands S44
District: TENTERFIELD FCC Aircraft Type: B204F
Location: TENTERFIELD FCC Callsign: HELITACK 489
Task: Bomb Registration: LIY
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed: 24/09/2007 12:00:00 PM

Northern Tablelands S44
District: NORTHERN TABLELANDS TEAM Aircraft Type: AS350 (w. XTML 5000 Motorola)
Location: TENTERFIELD FCC Callsign: FIREBIRD 258
Task: ReCon/Bomb/AA Registration: LZH
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed:

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: BELL 206B2
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: FIREBIRD 254
Task: Trans Registration: MXW
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed: 1/10/2007 2:30:00 PM

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: AS 350 BA
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: FIREBIRD 287
Task: Bomb Registration: BUK
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed:

Northern Tablelands S44
District: TENTERFIELD FCC Aircraft Type: KAWASAKI BK 117 (CONTRACT)
Location: TENTERFIELD FCC Callsign: HELITACK 225
Task: Bomb Registration: FHB
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed:

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: AT 802
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: BOMBER 277
Task: Bomb Registration: XAW
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed: 1/10/2007 2:30:00 PM

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: AIR TRACTOR AT-802
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: BOMBER 266
Task: Bomb Registration: AQB
Tasking Agency: S44 Deployed: 1/10/2007 2:30:00 PM

Holsworthy Range
District: MACARTHUR ZONE Aircraft Type: AS350 B3
Location: HOLSWORTHY Callsign: PARKAIR 1
Task: Bomb Registration: NPS
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

Holsworhy Range
District: MACARTHUR ZONE Aircraft Type: BELL 407
Location: HOLSWORTHY Callsign: FIREBIRD 223
Task: Bomb Registration: MAR
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

Standby
District: REGION EAST - CESSNOCK Aircraft Type: EC145
Location: BANKSTOWN Airport Callsign: HELITACK 294
Task: Bomb Registration: TNG
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: PARTENAVIA PN68B
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: FIRESPOTTER 272
Task: ReCon Registration: IYF
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: AS 350 B2
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: FIREBIRD 259
Task: ReCon/AA Registration: NBN
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

Carrai
District: NEW ENGLAND ZONE Aircraft Type: BELL 206B JETRANGER
Location: CARRAI Callsign: FIREBIRD 230
Task: ReCon/Bomb Registration: CHO
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

OYSTER COVE
District: LOWER HUNTER ZONE Aircraft Type: B204 UH-1B
Location: PORT STEPHENS FIRE CONTROL Callsign: HELITACK 276
Task: Bomb Registration: UHF
Tasking Agency: RFS Deployed:

LITTLE PITTWATER BAY
District: WARRINGAH FCC Aircraft Type: BELL 206L LONGRANGER
Location: Warringah FCC Callsign: FIREBIRD 279
Task: ReCon/AA Registration: SHH
Tasking Agency: NP Deployed:

Little Pitwater Bay
District: WARRINGAH FCC Aircraft Type: BELL 205A-1
Location: MT KURING-GAI Callsign: HELITACK 282
Task: Bomb Registration: AWU
Tasking Agency: NP Deployed:

Bundjalung NP
District: RICHMOND VALLEY FCC Aircraft Type: AT802 AIR TRACTOR
Location: EVANS HEAD AIRFIELD Callsign: BOMBER 354
Task: Bomb Registration: LII
Tasking Agency: NP Deployed:

Bundjalung NP
District: RICHMOND VALLEY FCC Aircraft Type: AIR TRACTOR AT802-67
Location: EVANS HEAD AIRFIELD Callsign: BOMBER 719
Task: Bomb Registration: SDJ
Tasking Agency: NP Deployed:

Little Pitwater Bay
District: WARRINGAH FCC Aircraft Type: BELL 206L3
Location: MT KURING-GAI Callsign: FIREBIRD 277
Task: ReCon/Bomb Registration: SHK
Tasking Agency: NP Deployed:

Little Pitwater Bay
District: WARRINGAH FCC Aircraft Type: BELL UH-1H
Location: MT KURING-GAI Callsign: HELITACK 272
Task: Bomb Registration: LUE
Tasking Agency: NP Deployed:

Retrieved 01-Oct-2007 18:50

:uhoh:

[John Eacott]

First day of the fire season, one home lost already :uhoh:

Sydney Morning Herald: (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bushfire-destroys-home/2007/10/01/1191090982317.html)

At least one [home] has been razed in a bushfire raging north of Newcastle on the first day of the official bushfire season.

More than 230 firefighters and three water-bombing aircraft are working to control two major fires in the state - one near Mt Ku-rin-gai north of Sydney and the blaze near Port Stephens, north of Newcastle.

Earlier reports suggested two homes had been destroyed but local fire officials now say one home has been lost.

The family fled for their lives when a blaze fanned by hot dry winds cut across scrubland and destroyed their home at Lemon Tree Passage Road at Salt Ash on a peninsula west of Williamtown air force base, north of Newcastle.

Mervyn Hartigan and his ex-wife and son had just enough time to gather a few possessions and move their cars before the home went up in flames.

They took shelter with neighbours and later came back to survey the blackened ruins of the home.

Other houses in the area were under threat as the fire front moved towards the town of Oyster Cove to the north.

The other blaze was in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, north of Sydney, where 130 firefighters were battling to establish control lines over an area of about 140 hectares.

About 60 campers had been moved out of the national park's Basin Reserve camping area, which lies in the fire's path, but no property was in danger.



NSW Fire Service spokesman Mr Hillan said it was concerning to see such fires so early in the bushfire season.

''What it shows us is a day of hot windy weather will bring on the bushfires,'' he said.

''People might have thought that with the recent rain that we had that we might be in for a bit of respite.

''But I think, just one day of hot windy weather shows that bushfires are capable of starting up and moving on. We've had a lot of growth that has come with the rain, and with the drought the ground is dry and the moisture gets sucked up very, very quickly.''

Mr Hillan said it was too early to say what had caused the fires, and the service's first priority was to get them under control.

A third fire burning in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, was brought under control earlier today.

About five hectares of rugged bushland was burnt out near Bundeena after the blaze broke out shortly after midnight/.

with AAP

[CYHeli]

I was in Newcastle about two months ago and they were still recovery from floods and storms that put the Pasha Bulker on the beach. Now fires. They can't pull a trick!

[OWAP]

CY,

Dont forget their rugby team finished 2nd last. :ouch:

OWAP