Originally Posted by
Jabberwocky82
Most of the back burning that was delayed/not performed at the beginning to this fire season was a result of the EPA not allowing them to go ahead due to potential smoke levels across Sydney. The models that were used are actually really well done and accurate, but it was the crew of ‘easily offended through social media’ that stopped back burns - not the greenies. None the less, plenty still went ahead.
National Parks has not got control over our back burns. It’s is all controlled ultimately by the RFS. The RFS support them and provide great numbers, but this also means mostly the window of opportunity will fall on a weekend when numbers are available and thus we have less options to complete the burn with weather windows. None the less, plenty still went ahead.
The bush is dry. Really, really dry. As has been detailed above, back burned areas at best this year have slowed, but have certainly not stopped fire spread. Burns have gone back through burnt areas etc and the most difficult part of all of this is that the whole tree has been igniting and burning very quickly - aiding spread.
Parks staff fire fight, in the bush, every year. They leave the roads and go very remote to contain things - usually before they become what we have seen this season. They do this every year. RFS wait down fire trails and back burn off of then. They need a more aggressive stance to fight fire in my opinion.
The RFS volunteers have done an amazing job, and should be held in very high regard as some of them are absolute heroes. We get paid to enter the fire ground, to do what they do for free and community spirit is a very commendable act.
Please don’t fly your private helicopter near the fire ground.
Seasonal tanker leasing is the way to go. Tankers do not put out fires. They can be used way more efficiently then they have been this year but a lot of lessons have been learned.
The armchair experts across the whole board of arguments in the community at the moment should go and volunteer to their local brigade, then they can earn an opinion on this stuff.
Please don’t donate to the RFS, they have a heap of red tape and bureaucracy that means you are essentially donating to the government.
Go and spend your money in affected areas, donate to wildlife rescues and most importantly, don’t forget those struggling with the drought - the cause of this season.
Ten bucks on Shane Fitz earning Australian of the Year in the year to come. Probably rightly so. A lot of the close to him deadweight deserve nothing of the sort.
These fires were massive. Occasionally **** happens and we are not prepared for next level events. This is one of those seasons unfortunately.
You might want to brush up on the difference between back burning and planned hazard reduction burning.
Donations to the RFS are recieved by a trust fund with strict limits to how such funds can be spent and robust governance. Essentially the funds must be spent on items for volunteer use that would not otherwise be provided. Bizarre that you're patting them on the back while urging us not to acknowledge those efforts with a donation.
The RFS is a government agency..
Hopefully everyone will ignore your plea.