HR Burn at Attunga Point

Crews from Rivers, Tidbinbilla and Guises Creek carried out an HR Burn today on Attunga Point which is just near the yacht club on Lake Burley Griffin. Although it was only a small burn, it burnt really well which just goes to show that even at this time of year a grass fire could easily take off under the right conditions. The burn was done for the National Capital Authority with Group Officers Peter Beutel and Pat Barling on hand to provide advice and mentoring for the crews.

We are looking forward to a bigger burn next week on Stirling Ridge which is also being done by RFS volunteers next weekend. Here are a few shots from the Attunga Point burn:

Group Officers Peter Beutel and Pat Barling ....mmmm...this could be the next caption competition photo!

The fire burnt really well

Crews enjoyed the opportunity to get some hands-on action

driptorch fun

No so much fun - dragging hoses up hill!

Caption Competition

The team at the ACTRFS used Facebook for their first caption competition.  Below is a picture of the winning caption chosen by the judges along with the various entries.

a)    Seriously!!!! It was THIS big!!!!!
b)   Your kidding your really in charge ??? holy crap
c)    You call that a fire
d) ‎   "Charnwood? Let it burn!"
e)    Were is the SES with our scones and tea?
f)     I'm being serious guys, is it okay that im wearing white after labour day?"
g)    You want me to do what with a rake hoe?
h)    Ok Rick, let me explain the fire square again. If you remove one or more of the following four sides,  
       Heat, Fuel, Oxygen or the dude in the Red Helmet, we can get this fire out !!!
i)     No...I really am busting!
j)     hahahahahah 2 piece concept, what is that?
k)    I'm not doing a dam thing until someone gives back my TimTams" said Robert
l)     Someone just found out who is running the show...
m)   Here, pull my finger... forget about it, I'll just have to do it myself.
n)    Hey, either of you guys got the keys for this thing?
o)    Sounds like just another one of your tall fishing tales to me mate!

Air Radio Operator and Air Base Operator Course - Goulburn 15-17 April

Volunteers and staff from NSWRFS and the ACTRFS descended on Goulburn last weekend to be trained in Air Radio Operator (ARO) and Air Base Operator (ABO) competencies. The ARO qualification gives them the skills to operate airband radios to communicate with aircraft operating on a fireground and to conduct flight following and Search and Rescue (SAR) procedures. The ABO qualification gives the skills to re-fill bombers with retardant and foam. The course was well attended with 30 odd people gaining their ARO certificate and a further 12 gaining theire ABO certificate.





AJ gives crews a briefing on the operation of the mobile command post




The set-up inside the mobile command post




All the radios you need as part of the ARO role




Crews re-filling a bomber with retardant - note the transportable tank that's used to for storage and transporting of any left over finished retardant product.



NSWRFS have done a fantastic job fitting out the container - it's fully portable and self contained

A number of aircraft were on hand to help with the exercises - here Bomber 222 pulls up to be re-filled with retardent

Bomber 223 - these bombers hold 3,000 ltrs of water/retardant



Firebird 206



HMAS Harman Hazard Reduction Burn

Whilst the Ngunawal HR burn was going on in the northside of Canberra, out to the west ACTRFS units were also conducting a hazard reduction burn at Harman near Queanbeyan. 

Part of our Caption Of The Week competition on Facebook.

Glenn Foley hard at work

Lisa Cunningham from Guises blacking out.

Images from the Ngunnawal Hills Burn

Over the weekend a number of hazard reduction burns were conducted on Saturday.  The weather was fantastic for these burns and achieved the desired effects.

ESA Leadership Training Coming Up Again!

Back in November last year, members of the ACTRFS & SES attended a leadership program provided by Alivve.  As Commissioner Mark Crosweller said, "We want to ensure that when people are having a bad day and ring 000 for our assistance, we will have the confidence and capability to respond promptly and effectively to their emergency situation."  The program focused on maximising the potential of the individual, the team and the organisation.  Subjects covered during the 3 day program included; limiting beliefs, leadership philosophies, leadership dilemmas, managers as coaches, emotional & social intelligences and problem solving & decision making.

The ESA Group of participants on the first evening with Commissioner Mark Crosweller

The group split up into four teams and came up with posters to identify each team members interests.

The team exercise of message in a bottle proved how close the group became over the weekend.

Tony, Amy & Michael from ACTRFS HQ waiting patiently.

The elusive bottle that needs to be recovered.

The dream team that conquered the message in a bottle task in the correct time frame.

The groups doing there problem solving exercise.