1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: But joining us on the line right now is the 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Bushfires into Incident Controller Colleen Bremner. Good morning to you, Colleen, 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: A good. 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 2: Morning, Good morning Katie. And I'll just actually the executive director, 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 2: not the controller. 6 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: I do apologize. 7 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 2: No, no, that's great. We've got Joshua Fisher from Fire 8 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 2: and Rescue doing that role. 9 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: And I would imagine, Colleen, it's been a bloody busy time. 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: You and I spoke yesterday morning about how busy it's been, 11 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: and then lo and behold, I saw what came through 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: yesterday afternoon. I felt for you guys. 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know that terrible and I think you know 14 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: well certainly yesterday I said, if people don't like fires, 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: then we also have a nice day like everybody else. 16 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: And that was not the case yesterday afternoon. So really 17 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: horrendous fire behavior, quite erratic. But can I just say 18 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 2: what a fantastic clue that I work with, But also 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: the volunteers and their employers who allowed them to come 20 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: during the during the week and release them because this 21 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,279 Speaker 2: fire started, you know, just after one pm, so people 22 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: were leaving work to come and you know, obviously try 23 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: and control the fire. 24 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: Incredible stuff, and they are their heroes really being able 25 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 1: to get out there and help. Colleen talk me through 26 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: how difficult this fire was and just how close it 27 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: came to two homes and properties. 28 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: Look, the initial the initial report that we got from 29 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: somebody driving past where they saw a fire on someone's property, 30 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: and that initial report was that the structure was was 31 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 2: on fire. That that wasn't the case. We confirm later 32 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: that it came right up to the to the to 33 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 2: the house. The wind changed probably three times during the 34 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: during that you know, the height of the or the 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: worst of the fire weather. So they were dealing with 36 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: at least four flanks, So it took some so obviously 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 2: the fire grounds needed to be sped up, and yeah, 38 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 2: so and obviously it was till probably around about six 39 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: o'clock before we were sort of reasonably confident that the 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 2: emergency warning could be downgraded to watch an act, and 41 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: we just maintained that watching act till early this morning. 42 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: So when crews went back out just to ensure that 43 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 2: we could if anything did flare up again, we were 44 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 2: able to look after it. 45 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: Colleen talked me through how many crews were required and 46 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: what kind of utilities you needed to get that fire 47 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: under control. 48 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: Amazing, amazing number of units. We actually had forty forty 49 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: one firefighting units on that ground, so you can imagine 50 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 2: one on one fire that's a fair big. We use 51 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 2: four fixed wing aircraft, the water bombers had obviously an 52 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 2: air attack helicopter doing air attack that was directing the 53 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: water bombing on the fire ground. We had obviously an 54 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: air observer that was doing intelligence to the fire ground, 55 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: and we also bought in two further helicopters with water 56 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 2: bucketing capacity to do the spot. Five spots were traveling 57 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 2: kilometers ahead of the fire front just because of the 58 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: wind gufts and the fuel loads. So that was what 59 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 2: was happening in the air. And then obviously, you know, 60 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 2: we had I think nine brigades responded to that to 61 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 2: support the Dale River Dale on the brigade. Obviously, with 62 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: fires of that intensity, we can't expect one brigade on 63 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: their own to respond, so so big thank you for 64 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 2: those from those brigades who came in and came and helped. 65 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: That sounds pretty unbelievable. I mean, forty one units. You've 66 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: got those four aircraft up in the air, the two choppers, 67 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: and then those nine brigades. It sounds like a lot 68 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: of resources were required to get this fire under control, 69 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: and from what you'd said earlier, it sounds like it 70 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: it was raging for a number of hours. 71 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, And look I forgot this time. Fire rescue 72 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 2: also from Humpty do the permanent staff and volunteers also assisted, 73 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: and police in relation to road closure. So it was 74 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 2: a absolutely joined efforts from you know, school bus runs 75 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 2: being diverted or shut and you know, amazing amount of 76 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: cooperation to have a pretty good outcome. But I have 77 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: to say we I think earlier this morning we found 78 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: out that at least one residence was lost, so we 79 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: are following up on that further. So obviously that's that's 80 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: not good news, but that's sort of some of the 81 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: stuff that you find out posts fire because obviously during 82 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 2: the day, when the fire behaves quite dynamics, you don't 83 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 2: always get that information. 84 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: No, Colleen, tell me, I mean it sounds like it 85 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: was massive, is it. Is it one of the one 86 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: of the scarier fires that we've seen out that way. 87 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: I know that you guys are used to these kinds 88 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: of conditions, but it does sound like it's it's rage 89 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: for quite some time. 90 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: Look, it was quite. It's quite challenging because obviously the 91 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: it was during a working day, so you know, the 92 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: majority of our fist fighting, if it's are really ably 93 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 2: supported by our volunteer crews, and it's those volunteer crews 94 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: have to leave their workplace to come to support us. 95 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: It makes it, you know, obviously, that much more difficult. 96 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: And then you throw in you know, the timing and 97 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: one o'clock in the afternoon is you know, you can 98 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: look at the just the wind conditions and stuff that 99 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: are going on at that time. So I'm I'm not sure. 100 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: I mean, Sunday was the Sunday fire was pretty horrendous 101 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: as well in the Very Springs area, with probably a 102 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: lot more larger assets under threats, such as the Wildlife 103 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: Park and potentially you know, the Berry Springs township. This 104 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 2: time we're looking at you know, people's houses and residents 105 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: as well as you know, whatever livestock or pets and 106 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: stuff it might have been in the past. But you know, Katie, 107 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 2: we suspect again that this was a deliberately lit fire 108 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 2: or suspicious fire. So you know, we've been in a 109 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: consultation with police to report that this is a you know, 110 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: amazing amazing effort by people, just you know, in relations 111 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 2: to saving lives and not being able to take every 112 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 2: bit of property. But when when you get behavior like 113 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: this where people deliberately light fires, it puts everybody. 114 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: At d Yeah, it makes your bloody wild. Really you know, 115 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: whether it's deliberate and say the word yeah, well, and 116 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: you know, I just think then the volume of resources 117 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: that are required and the work that has to go 118 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,119 Speaker 1: into getting that fire under control. Whether it's on whether 119 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: they've done it deliberately, whether it's through stupidity, I don't know, 120 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: but people need to be more careful. And we know 121 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: that today we are heading into another fireband, so we 122 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: need to make sure that people do the right thing. 123 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: Absolutely and keep an eye out. If you suspect, you know, 124 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: any suspicious behavior, people sort of driving around like they 125 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: might be up to no good, report it to the zero. 126 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: We'll have people out. Certainly, We're in discussions with police 127 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: and will be actively patrolling the areas ourselves to try 128 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: and unsure nothing happens. 129 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, Colleen, A big thank you to you for your 130 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: time this morning and all of your work. A big 131 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: thank you to all of those volunteers, all of those crews, 132 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: MT Fire and Rescue Service. Well done to everybody that's 133 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: out there that had done a tremendous job and a 134 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: lot of hard work to get that fire under control, 135 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,559 Speaker 1: not only yesterday but over the weekend as well. 136 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: Okay, thank you, thank you 137 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning.