1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,160 Speaker 1: What we know is that Fire Cruise and volunteers have 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: been battling several fires in Tenant Creek, with a blaze 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: on Peako Road reaching Watch and Act level yesterday afternoon. 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: Cruise also had a challenging weekend battling multiple blazes across 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: the region. And we know that there was a fast 6 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: moving grass fire in the Hobby Farms area at burned 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: through forty eight hectares on Sunday and it was found 8 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: by strong winds and difficult terrain. Now while tackling that, 9 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: fire crews were also called to blazers at Mulga Camp 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: and reports of children lighting fires near the Football Oval. 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: Senior Station Officer Keith Hutten has praised the dedication of 12 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: local volunteers who've clocked over one hundred and fifty hours 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: protecting the community and he joins me on the line 14 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: right now. 15 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: Good morning, Keith, Good morning Katie. How are you toking? 16 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: Yeah? Really good. Thanks for joining us this morning on 17 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: the show. Keith Ursley, what's the latest on the Peico 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: Road blaze? 19 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: Oh, look, it's been out and had a drive through 20 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: the fireline and the work that the volleys and everyone 21 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 2: did last night has been really effective. It's secured the 22 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: properties that are up there. So there's a few people 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: leaving up in the ranges up there, secured their properties 24 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: and it's done a really good job. But if people 25 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,839 Speaker 2: look out of the window now, they'll see some pretty 26 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: heavy plumes of smoke, but they are burning across the 27 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: top of the ranges at the moment. 28 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, Keith, what's it like in ten and at 29 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 1: the moment and surrounds I'm imagining a pretty warm must 30 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: be a bit gusty as well. 31 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, the weather's warming up through the week. So we 32 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: had a fairly reasonably cool week last week that strong winds. 33 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: Then now this week the winds have swung around and 34 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: the temperatures increasing, So that's going to continue increasing and 35 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,279 Speaker 2: through the weekend and in the next week. 36 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: So with the Peago road blaze, I'm imagining that crews 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: will probably be back out there today. 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: Oh, one hundred percent, we'll be back out there. I've 39 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 2: just been out We've burned through about six hundred and 40 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: fifty hectares last night, and there's probably I haven't had 41 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 2: a look at the estimate, but there'd be three to 42 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: four hundred hectares that are probably going to go up 43 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: today as well. 44 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: How challenging are those conditions And you know, talking about 45 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: the fact that CRUs have been working last night, no 46 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: doubt working, you know, enormous hours to try and deal 47 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: with things. 48 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, well last night, so this fi I started around 49 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 2: two pm yesterday. CRUs were alerted to it around a 50 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: quarter to three or two thirty three, two thirty and 51 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 2: we worked through to three sorry, two am this morning 52 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 2: securing all those properties. It's yeah, it's incredibly challenging. We've 53 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: got there's not a lot, there's not a lot of 54 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: members here. We don't have a huge array of resources 55 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: to call on. So we had ten volunteers and staff 56 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: out there last night, seven appliances, and they work. They 57 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 2: worked tirelessly and now they've most of them have fronted 58 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 2: up to work today as well, so you know they're 59 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 2: backing this up every single day. 60 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: Good on them. It's I mean, it is a huge 61 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: fat Keith. In terms of I know you mentioned that 62 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: there are some properties along that road. In terms of 63 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,399 Speaker 1: the work that you guys have done to those properties, 64 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: they're all sort of safe at the moment. 65 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, they're they're all well and truly safe. The 66 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: actions that the cruise did last night burning around those 67 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: properties saved literally saved their properties from burning down. Yeah, 68 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: with the amount of fuel and the unpredictable wind we've 69 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: got weather through this week. It's today and through the 70 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: week it's unstable. Increasing fire is through to the weekend 71 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 2: and next week gusty and shifting winds that'll drive the 72 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: fires in the afternoon. We've really got to pick our 73 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: time and pick our place where we're going to do 74 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: these backburds. So at the moment we're out, we're doing 75 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: greater work. We've got securing fire breaks around the communities 76 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 2: and it will be out there probably in the next 77 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 2: hour assessing where we're going to start the next next burns. 78 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: Keith that the Peak I Road fire is obviously on 79 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: top of the Hobby Farms fire on Sunday, it burnt through, 80 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: as I understand, about forty eight hectares. Were there any 81 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: assets or infrastructure lost, No. 82 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 2: There was no, There was. There was some car bodies 83 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 2: scattered throughout the bush. There was one shed as in 84 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 2: an old stable, but it had been well abandoned. The 85 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: fire burnt through there just's it was undefendable. Just with 86 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 2: the amount of fuel load that was around it. But yeah, 87 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 2: that was that was all expected. It wasn't unexpected. The 88 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 2: land that had burnt out was heavy fuel. We stopped it, 89 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: stopped it on the borders. We had some good brakes 90 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 2: in place that we could work off. And that's so 91 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 2: important that landholders take care of their firebreaks, make sure 92 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 2: we've got good access around their properties because when we 93 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:26,239 Speaker 2: come out, we don't have time cut fences and find 94 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 2: alternate routes. 95 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: Hey, now, in terms of my understanding is that at 96 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: the same time that you're dealing with that fire, you're 97 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: also called at Mulga Camp on the other side of town. 98 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: I mean, by the sounds of what you said earlier, 99 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: it would have stretched your resources, there is no doubt. 100 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, So when we get multiple calls on that we've 101 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: got a triage, what our priority is at that stage. 102 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 2: Police had actually notified us that there was a fire there. 103 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 2: They weren't concerned about. It was burning in low grass 104 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: and burning slow. There was low wind at at that location, 105 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 2: so there was no real concerns, nothing threatened. So we 106 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 2: took the option we delayed our response to them till 107 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 2: I could release a resource, and as soon as I could, 108 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 2: I did, and yeah, we extinguished that. Two of the 109 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 2: things happened yesterday as well, with where there was a 110 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: fuel spill in town and another fire out near the 111 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: airport while we're trying to battle the Pico Road fire. 112 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: Sounds like you guys are busy, there is no doubt, 113 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: and it is that time of the year, I suppose, 114 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: and I know that you do lots of you know, 115 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: I've work to try and make sure that you minimize 116 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: the impacts of any of these fires. But then you 117 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: also were dispatched two reports of kids lighting fires with 118 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: fuel on the footy Oval. I mean, how disappointing is 119 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: it when something like this happens and you've got your 120 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: hard working crews out there and the impact that it 121 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: has on everybody. 122 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. It is really disappointing. Kids are going 123 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 2: to find whatever they can to amuse themselves, and unfortunately 124 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: these kids have come up with some fun games of 125 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: fire which cause a lot of work and a lot 126 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: of risk around the community. Thankfully, it looks like that 127 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 2: was only a that was only a very small incident, 128 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 2: so there was no great damage done, but it did 129 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 2: divert our resources from other jobs. 130 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: Keith, I know that the Barkley North and Barkley South 131 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: are under a fire danger period. It looks like it's 132 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: still the end of October. What is the advice to 133 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: the community and landholders? 134 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: But now, well, now's a really good time to make 135 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: sure that you've got your fire fire planes in place 136 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 2: or your emergency planes in place. Make sure your fire 137 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: breaks are clear, make sure we've got good access around 138 00:07:55,400 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: around your properties. And if you see a fire reported early. 139 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 2: I can't stress enough that how quickly these fires develop, 140 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: and how much time it takes to get how volunteers 141 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: and not to take themselves away from their family or 142 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 2: their work and make arrangements so they can attend the 143 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: fire station. Like you said, there was one hundred and 144 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: fifty hours last week that they donated to the community. 145 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 2: Last night we had ten members out there for another 146 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 2: twelve hours, so that was another one hundred and twenty 147 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 2: hours just in the last night over the last twenty 148 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 2: four hours. 149 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 1: I mean, it sounds like it's busy as how things 150 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: looking for today, Keith? Is it looking as though you 151 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: could have another really busy day. 152 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, the wind starting to pick up. We've had a 153 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: weather forecast and it's predicting enhanced fire behavior through the afternoon, 154 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 2: and the atmosphere is fairly unstable, so that's going to 155 00:08:55,480 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 2: cause a lot of upper level movement when the fire's hot. 156 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 2: Fire that could throw embers a head, so you could 157 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 2: wind up with a bit of spotting ahead of the fire, 158 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 2: which will breach our firebreaks or potential to breach our firebreaks. 159 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 2: The area that's burning at the moment, though, it is 160 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 2: actually heading north, so it's not we're not expecting it 161 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:25,239 Speaker 2: to come back towards town, so there's very limited infrastructure 162 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 2: up there. We can't extinguish it, so what we're try 163 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: and do is divert it or steer it into a 164 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: burnt patch so it actually burns itself out. 165 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: Yeah right, We'll make all the best today to you, 166 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: to all the fires and indeed any volunteers out there 167 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: working with you guys, and by the sounds of it, 168 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: we might catch up with you again overcoming days, depending 169 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: on how things are going. 170 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 2: No worries, thanks, I just want to shout out to 171 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: the community. Chout out to the community for all their 172 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: efforts yesterday or working with those landholders last night burning 173 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 2: around their but it's very very close to their properties 174 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: and they are very accommodating. I really appreciate everything that 175 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: they do. 176 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, good stuff, well, Keith, good on you guys, and 177 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: plenty of hard work ahead of you, I know. ANDT 178 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: Fire and Rescue Service Senior Station Officer, Keith Hutton, thanks 179 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: so much for having a chat with us this morning. 180 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 2: Thanks Coatie, thank you. 181 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: Sounds good.