1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line right now from Bushfires Int 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: is Tony Fuller. 3 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 2: Good morning, Tony, Good morning Katie. 4 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Tony. How are things going at the moment in the 5 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: Barkley region. 6 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, pretty good. The cruise are out on the fire 7 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: ground again. There's been a bit of activity with some 8 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: aerial in sundry work to put in some buffers around 9 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: the western containment lines, and they'll be working on that. Then, 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 2: the adf NT Fire and our start were all working 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 2: with the local community to prepare Tennant Creek should those 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 2: containment mines not hold the fire. 13 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: Tony tell us we'd obviously been keeping really close on 14 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: that massive fire in epinar it was continuing to spread. 15 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: Did it slow down a bit in terms of reaching 16 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: Tenant or you know, or getting closer to the township? 17 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 2: I certainly didn't run as far us as it did yesterday, 18 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 2: but it's still there's still different fingers that are breaking 19 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: off and different areas that we're concerned about. So yeah, 20 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 2: given the size of it, there are a number of 21 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 2: different spots in that fire that we're concentrating our efforts 22 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: on to make sure that they don't impact on any 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: resident populated areas. 24 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: And I know that they've been talk about that fire 25 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: crossing the Goss River. It hasn't crossed that point at 26 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: this stage as a. 27 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 2: No, but we'll be doing some work around there and 28 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 2: actually putting some fire to ground to give a bigger 29 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: buffer between the river and the fire, the main fire itself. 30 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: So anyone that might be watching the Nappy site or 31 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: any other sites that predict showy where the fire is, 32 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: they'll certainly likely to see some activity in those areas. 33 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: But that's actually us doing the work, not the fire 34 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: running away from us. 35 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, Tony, talk us through how large this fire 36 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: is it? I mean, it has it grown in size 37 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 1: since we spoke yesterday. 38 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, I haven't got an update, but the last 39 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: there was over ten thousand square kilometers, so I imagine 40 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: it just looking roughly at the map today, it's probably 41 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: up to around twelve thousand now, but I haven't got 42 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: a good handle on that at the moment. Yeah. 43 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: Well, I mean when you go on that fire incident map, 44 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: it looks absolutely massive. 45 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's what people got to understand. I've just 46 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 2: sit in a photo of one of the backburns, and 47 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: it's kilometers and kilometers of straight road that they're putting 48 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 2: the backburn on and it wouldn't matter how many resources 49 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 2: you had there. There is always a chance that a big, 50 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 2: stronger wind gusts will come along and pick up some 51 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 2: members and throw it across the other side. Yeah, totally 52 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: patrolling that and trying to keep it on the right side. 53 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: How the weather conditions looking for this afternoon. 54 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 2: Very similar to yesterday, gusty winds and tomorrow we're expecting 55 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 2: a bit of a slight wind change, mostly south easterly winds, 56 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 2: but then the some eastleis will come in later. 57 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: Is that going to make Is that going to make 58 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: it better or worse? 59 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: Actually worse? And that's that's why we're working hard today 60 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: to try and get some buffer in between the fire 61 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: and where we're working because there's a long edge of fire. 62 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 2: You'll see that once those eastleies come in, that'll actually 63 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: become the head of the fire. We could have you know, 64 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: up to one hundred kilometers of fire front, but we're 65 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: working hard to try and make sure that doesn't occur. 66 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: Talk me through the resourcing, like how many bushfires crew 67 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: have you got out there? And in terms of the 68 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,839 Speaker 1: idea and others supporting from interstate. 69 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: I look the South Australian crews haven't arrived yet. They 70 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: should be on the fire ground tomorrow I understands pick 71 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: up and then coming up. But then the EIGHTF cruise 72 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 2: there's about a dozen of them. They're operating two dozes 73 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: and greater. They've hit the ground today working down there. 74 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 2: I understand the Anti fire boosted the numbers down there 75 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 2: about a dozen as well. And then with us there's 76 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: about the last coal I think it was up to 77 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: thirty five of NT Bushilis, n T and volleys and 78 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 2: other staff working out on the fire ground. But in 79 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: support of them, we've got loaders, people working those heavy 80 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: machinery out out in the fire grounds. The landholders themselves, 81 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 2: they're just putting in a huge effort, as I said, 82 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: the volunteers, and we've got loaders for the planes as well. 83 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: That needs to get water on it, so we've got 84 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: teams doing that, and yeah, it's a pretty big effort. 85 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: Tiny this look, you know, this might be a real 86 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: novice sort of question, but you know, when you look 87 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: at this fire, when you look at what it's doing 88 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: right now, I know you're expecting that those conditions could 89 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: worsen in the coming days. But you know, like, how 90 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: long are you expecting to be battling this fire? 91 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 2: If we don't, Hopefully we'll get some containment lines on 92 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: it and then we can start slowing it down and 93 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: then probably up to a week, but most people will know. 94 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: But we had a fire that went for nearly three 95 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 2: months this last year and at the top end, so 96 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: you know, if there's nothing that's kind of get in 97 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: its way in or if it's got fuel, it will 98 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: keep burning until we either put the containment lines in 99 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: into it or hits a barrier that it can't cross. 100 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: How do you juggle, Like, how do you then juggle 101 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: all of your resourcing and just start off over such 102 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: a long period of time. And I know that you know, 103 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: your cruise are phenomenal, and I know the volunteers are phenomenal, 104 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: and and you know you've got the ADA for assisting, 105 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,239 Speaker 1: and you've got you've got that assistance, and the Northern 106 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: Territory Fire and Rescue Service obviously doing a phenomenal job. 107 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 1: But how do you juggle this, particularly over such a 108 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: long period. 109 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 2: Look, we daily have a look at every fire that's 110 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 2: happy in the landscape and we make a risk assessment 111 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: and obviously those that are likely to impact properties or 112 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 2: population areas. They're the ones we put our resources to, 113 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 2: and we don't put life over over bush and we 114 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: just put our quare resources towards those, well. 115 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: Tony Fuller, anything else we should be aware of this 116 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: morning before I let you go. I know that a 117 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: lot of work has been done in terms of that mitigation. 118 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: I know that a lot of work's been done with 119 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: the community to make sure that people stay safe in Tenant, 120 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: But anything else we should be aware of this morning. 121 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 2: Look, if you go to travel down the center, just 122 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: be aware that the road conditions may change really quickly. 123 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: There's already a lot of smoke down there, so reconsider 124 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,119 Speaker 2: what trouble you need to do down along the Steel 125 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 2: Highway and be prepared for sudden changes. That roads may 126 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: be closed suddenly. But obviously we want to try and 127 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: protect the public that are moving through that area, So 128 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 2: just be aware of that. But a really big thing 129 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: to all the community that it's chipping in and helping 130 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: the staff and the volunteers Intenant Creek itself. I know 131 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 2: there's been a lot of work and a lot of 132 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 2: support to everyone out there. 133 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: Well Tony Fuller, the Chief Fire control officer with bushfires 134 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: and it's always good to catch up with you. I 135 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: know that you guys are working bloody hard. A big 136 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: shout out to everybody that is working incredibly hard to 137 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: keep the community safe and to try, you know, to 138 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: mitigate all of those risks to tenant Craig. 139 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks Kerry, and thanks, thank you.