1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Well, all eyes having indeed been on Tenant Creek over 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: the recent days as that massive fire continues to burn. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: Joining us on the line right now is Tony Fuller 4 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: from Bushfires into Good morning Tony. 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, good morning, Katie. 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 3: What's the latest this morning, Tony. 7 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,799 Speaker 2: Look, there's a number of crews back out on the 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 2: fire ground today. The imagery that we've getting at the 9 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 2: moment shows that the fire is abaited somewhat overnight, which 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: is really good news for us and the community. But 11 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 2: given the easily wins and what happened yesterday, which is 12 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: crossing our fingers to hope that we don't get any 13 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: more flare ups and the crewise can continue working on 14 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,319 Speaker 2: those containment lines and keep the fire. Where is at 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: the moment? 16 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, So how far away from town is it at 17 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 3: the moment? 18 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: It hasn't moved much at all from where it stopped yesterday. 19 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 2: So it's on the edge of the Gross River go yep, 20 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: which is there? So yeah, I'm not sure. It's about 21 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: forty forty k's away and. 22 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 3: Talk us through Tiny as well. 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: I understand that you've had volunteers and others sort of 24 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 1: come to help from South Australia. 25 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 3: Did they arrive this morning. 26 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, they have been task this morning. They've already gone 27 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: out onto the fire ground today. 28 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: And in terms of you know, the work that now 29 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: kind of needs to happen, I get, you know, it's 30 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: been like it's been a massive week, but it's been 31 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: a difficult week for the people of Tenants as well, 32 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: keeping an eye on that fire and I suppose wondering 33 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: what's next. 34 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, we're not out of the woods yet. There's 35 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: certainly a lot more work to do to make sure 36 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: those containment lines hold. As we've been saying, it just 37 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: needs the wind to pick up and a single ember 38 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: across those lines, and you know, we're in a world 39 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: heard again. So they're all working hard at the moment 40 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: to try and stop that from event warning and also 41 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: look at preparing the township for any future fires that 42 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: might occur later in the season. So it's not just 43 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: about now, it's about what's going to happen later in 44 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 2: the season, because there's a lot of bush around there 45 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 2: that needs to be sorted out before we leave Tenant Creek. 46 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:21,519 Speaker 1: Yeah, Tony, how big is that fire at this point? 47 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: I know there'd been you know, comparisons to to the 48 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: Act when you talk about the size. 49 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's about four times act. We're looking for something 50 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 2: to compare it against and that was that was the 51 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: best we could come up with. So, yeah, four times 52 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: the size about twelve hundred. 53 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: That is just astronomical. Yeah, and I mean it's just astronomical. 54 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: And I know that, you know, I know every year 55 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: we're battling fires and bushfires. Into has to do a 56 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: huge body of work to keep an eye on so 57 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: many of those bushfires. But this one just seems to 58 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: have have been sort of larger and gotten closer to 59 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: the township of Tenant Creek than what we've seen in 60 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: previous years. 61 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, and that's that's the difference. We do have 62 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: a lot of bigger fires around the place, but they're 63 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 2: earning it out in country that's not impacting on townships. 64 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: And this one obviously was really large and heading towards 65 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: Tenant Creek. He put so much effort into it. But 66 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: you know, we had a fire last year that ran 67 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 2: across the top of Bradshaw in the northwest of the NTA, 68 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: and that was really massive, but it was going across 69 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: country that nobody lives in, and I wasn't impact in 70 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 2: any stock or or anything like that. 71 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, so Tony from like from today, it does still 72 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: sound like there's lots of work happening. 73 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 3: But are you like you're. 74 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: Not standing down, but are you're starting to relax at 75 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: all based on the change of direction of that fire 76 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: or not really? 77 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: No, not really, little it's got to keep hoping today 78 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: and we don't get any flare ups and then we'll 79 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: be a little bit more comfortable. Yeah. Well, we're reasonably 80 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: comfortable with some of those lines yesterday, and then the 81 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: wind picked up and we had to run one of 82 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 2: those fingers ran for thirty five k's yesterday, So it 83 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: can change really quickly. 84 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: Yep. Now, unfortunately, as you mentioned yesterday on the show, 85 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: it's not the only fire that you're concerned about. That 86 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: one out at Livingstone that's now been downgraded, fortunately, but 87 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: I note that the police are calling for witnesses for 88 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: that one. 89 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, the police have been out there this morning 90 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: just to try and establish how it started. That try 91 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: was particularly dangerous. One of our air supervisors, one of 92 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 2: the people in the helicopter's been up here for a 93 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: long time and he said that it was really erratic. 94 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: You hadn't seen anything like that for a long time 95 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 2: it was just spotting all over the place and the 96 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: crews were run ragged for a while there. But thankfully 97 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: there was a large turnout of volunteers that helped the 98 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 2: our staff to get it under control. And there was 99 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: no significant property loss. I understand there was one shed 100 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: that with damage, but other than that and some fences 101 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 2: that there was no houses lost. 102 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: Well, that is bloody lucky by the sounds of it. 103 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: If it is, you know, if it was that erratic, 104 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: so very lucky indeed. And also a far out in 105 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: the Gregory district, wasn't there. 106 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's still going. But parks have been out and 107 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: checked all the camping grounds, so there's nobody under threat 108 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 2: there at the moment, and the local parks and landholders 109 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 2: around there were working to contain that at the moment. 110 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, So what's the plans for today, Tony? 111 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 1: By the sounds of it, you know, I mean, we 112 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: certainly know that there is still the fireban in place. 113 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 3: So what's the plan for today? 114 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, look very much similar to yesterday. Just try and 115 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 2: get the the creek wire under control and the cruise 116 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,799 Speaker 2: are back on the Kentish Road or Livingston Road. This morning, 117 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: just mopping up there, making sure there's no reignitionis down there. 118 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: But we're looking at possibly three more days of firebands 119 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 2: at this stage, so we'll just keep working with our 120 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: wallies and be ready to respond this needed. 121 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: Well. Mate, we've reintroduced this week our Territorian of the Week, 122 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: and we've had quite a few nominations for you, quite 123 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: a few nominations for the. 124 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 3: Whole Bushfires MT. 125 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: Crew. 126 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: So look, I'm going to call it early. 127 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: I do think that our Territorians of the week are 128 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: definitely our Bushfires MT. Crew. And you know, you guys 129 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: have all done a phenomenal job, and you continue to 130 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: do a phenomenal job. And I know that the community 131 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: absolutely appreciates the very hard work that all of you 132 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 1: are doing right now. 133 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: Oh, no worries. I'll pass that on to the crew. 134 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: They'll be a bit chucked about. 135 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 3: Well, and look it's one hundred dollars cash or voucher, 136 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 3: so they can spend it. 137 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: Maybe they can have a barbecue or something. I don't know, Tony, 138 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: or you can I don't know whether I'm allowed to 139 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: say this, but buy him a slab maybe, you know, 140 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: give them a thank you for the work they've done. 141 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 2: I'll have to check with the Boston that one, but 142 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: I'm sure if you put a barbecue on there's a 143 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: few seagulls out of here. 144 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 3: Oh good on you, Tony. 145 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much mate, for all the catch ups 146 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: that we've had this week, and all the beasts this 147 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: afternoon and for the coming days. 148 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. Thanks Katie, thanks you and your listeners. 149 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 3: Thank you.