Arthur Sayer's Farewell

Yesterday the ACTRFS staff headed out into the bush for a business plan review followed on by a farewell barbecue for our Rural Liaison Officer.  Everyone who is anyone within the ACT Rural Fire Service Community knows Arthur Sayer who is the Captain of Tidbinbilla.  Arthur has had a long distinguished career in the ACT dealing with all things bushfire related.

Class Of 2012 Photo

Trying to work out the way to the next destination.

Arthur receiving his surprise farewell gift.

We think Arthur liked his gift.

Arthur telling a few war stories of the various fires he was involved in throughout the Brindabella Ranges.



Ngunnawal Hills North Hazard Reduction Burn

The Gungahlin Brigade completed a HR burn last Thursday near Ngunnawal. 

This burn was to reduce the fuel loading and the burn achieved it's objective.



Tidbinbilla Brigade's

The progress on the Tidbinbilla Brigade station is progressing well. 

ACTRFS at the Summernats

The ACTRFS was well represented at the Summernats this year. We had crews on hand to assist with the dampening down of the main arena, the helicopter joy flight area and the main competition area. From all accounts, everything has gone off really well.

The time spent at Summernats provided us with a great opportunity to promote the ACTRFS to the younger community. There were many shouts from the crowd for the crews to do burn-outs (which obviously wasn't possible), but they did enjoy the occasional demonstration of lights & sirens!

I think next year (subject to the fire danger) we can expect bigger and better things at Summernats.

Well done all, and particularly to Rohan Samara who took on the task of organising for us to attend. Roh is currently holidaying in Thailand so couldn't see the result of his efforts.

Here's a few very ordinary shots from my iphone - Mick Joyce DCO

Jamie Lankford with Lucas Tan hiding in the cabin!

The guys on Rivers 19 (middle of picture) enjoying the burnout action

Rivers 19 bulk water tanker with crew ready to keep the dust down at Summernats

MLO30 was kept busy on the main arena (this was obviously a quieter moment - Jamie telling us all about how many flatheads he caught down the coast while on holidays)

Special Children's Christmas Party 2011

On Saturday 10 December 2011, eight members from the Rivers and Molonglo Volunteer Rural Fire Brigades attended the Special Children’s Christmas Party at Exhibition Park in Canberra that 1,600 children went to.

The Rivers Volunteer Fire Brigade provided a heavy tanker (RIV 11) and five crew with the Molonglo Volunteer Fire Brigade provided two members plus Shyler the Community Support/Fire Awareness Dog. Shyler and the heavy tanker proved very popular on the day with a number of children taking advantage of the opportunity to sit in a fire truck and pat/play with Shyler.

The event was very rewarding for all concerned and despite the volume of children wishing to climb all over the fire truck, all members who attended have commented on how rewarding it was to participate in the event.

Tidbinbilla Brigade's new shed work has started!

The foundations have been poured and preparation for the walls and roof are in place on the brand new Tidbinbilla Brigade shed. 



Turkish Wildfire Units

It is sad that when the ACTRFS HQ staff go on leave, part of their holiday pics are made up of fire trucks!! :)

Operations Officer Paul Simakoff-Ellims, took these photo's whilst visiting Europe.  Here is what Paul says of his holiday snaps.

The below photos are of a typical Turkish wildfire unit used to protect forest and national parks.  The crews live next to their trucks all summer in small portable accommodation blocks, in shifts which last for 25 days. This unit was based at Gallipoli to protect the national park and significant monuments such as the Lone Pine Cemetery and ANZAC Cove. This particular truck carries around 9,000L of water and performed very well both on and off road.

A side shot of the tanker, the bar around the cab is a spray system and there is a electronic monitor on the front of the unit under the black cover.

The live reels and pump set.

The pump set

Orman, means Forest, Canakkale Isletme Mudurlugu means Canakkale islet directorate and ALO 177 Yangin Ihbar Hatti is the Fire notification number to call to report wildfire.

This is the electronic monitor located on the top of the unit between the cab and the equipment locker. Both monitors are controlled from within the cab but have a manual override. This monitor also has a value to allow for foam to be introduced directly into the monitor.



The large equipment locker between the tank and the crew cab, equipment is also stored on the top of the tank.