RAFT Crews Battle fires at Cann River, Victoria

The first ACT RAFT crew deployment to Cann River in Vicoria  has now returned safely home to the ACT after 6 days. Photos of their deployment are shared with us below. Simon Leigh, Simon Alamos, Phil Hunt, James Thornburn and Simon Demajo spent  the first day patrolling the edge of a fire in the club terrace area ,when a dry storm shot down lightning and started 2 more fires. They were then despatched  in light units up into East Gippsland near Chandelers Creek which was steep country. They spent the following days working closely with Victorian crews using chainsaws and hand tools near dozer containment lines and reached less accessible areas by helicopter. (Photos courtesy of Simon Demajo)

View of Vic Fires from Mt Coree Fire Tower

Here is a photo of the Victorian bushfires as seen looking in a southerly direction from the Fire Tower located on Mt Coree, in the Namadgi National Park, ACT on Sunday 9 Feb 2014. Mt Ginini is in the foreground. (Photo by Simon Demajo).

Portugese National Authority of Civil Protection visit to ACT RFS

Mr JOSE MOURA (National Commander for Relief Operations) and Mr MIGUEL CRUZ, (National Operations Assistant) of the National Authority of Civil Protection (NACP), Portugal during their visit to the ACT RFS between Friday 17 January 2014 and Thursday 23rd January 2014









Their visit was to study the techniques and operational issues in bushfire management in the ACT. Whilst here they:

• Met with volunteer ACTRFS members on Station around the ACT; 
• Viewed equipment facilities and arrangements;
• Toured the ESA Emergency Management Facility at Fairbairn; 
• Met with key ESA Staff including the Risk Manager, Media Manager, ACTRFS Managers and were provided with an overview of the bushfire management issues in the ACT; 
• Attended the Portuguese Embassy; 
• Visited Federal Attorney General’s Department (Emergency Management Capability Development Branch and Crisis Co-ordination Centre); 
• Attended the Tumut bushfire; Visited the CSIRO Bushfire Research Facility; and 
• Viewed high bushfire risk areas of the ACT .

Murrumbucca Fire - near Cooma

Several ACT RFS Strike Teams have been despatched to the Murrumbucca Fire, located in the vicinity of Shannons Flat Rd, near Cooma. The fire started late on Friday afternoon 31 Jan 2014.

Here are some photos of the back burning operations undertaken on Friday night. (Photos by Garry Mayo).

Video by Martin Greenwood

Kids for Cancer Convoy 2014

The ACT Rural Fire Service once again turned out in force to participate in the Kids for Cancer Truck Convoy event which was held in Canberra on Sunday 2 Feb 2014. Crews were initially briefed near DFO at Fyshwick and then joined the main truck convoy which left from near Harman,  passed through Fyshwick and the city and ended up in Gunghalin. A great time was had by all! (Photos by Gary Hooker).

Members of the public give the ACT RFS a big wave as they drive along Parkes Way, near Commonwealth Park.

ACT Rural Fire Service crews gather near DFO Fyshwick for a briefing.

Vehicles assembled at the staging area.