Kids for Cancer Truck Convoy - ACT RFS Turns Out in Force

ACT Rural Fire Service crews participated in the Kids for Cancer Truck Convoy held on Saturday 2 Feb 2013. Approximately 400 trucks and motorcycles, including 29 ACT RFS vehicles, joined in the convoy which started at Mitchell and ended up at the Tuggeranong Town Centre (across the road from Bunnings).

The purpose of the convoy was to raise money for the wonderful Kids for Cancer charity. A number of RFS members have friends or family who are affected by cancer. Photos by Gary Hooker.

ACT Rural Fire Service vehicles travelling in convoy from Mitchell to Tuggeranong.

The initial staging point was Harrison Primary School, Gungahlin.

Crews were briefed prior to joining the convoy.

Vehicles lined up at the briefing area.

We have ourselves a convoy!

Ready to go.

Vehicles were then staged in Mitchell, ready to join the rest of the convoy.

Michael Joyce, Deputy Chief Officer of the ACT Rural Fire Service, leads the pack.

It was a long wait in Mitchell, but we finally got moving.

Crews starting to roll.

A Hall member flys the convoy flag.

Travelling along the Tuggeranong Expressway, near the National Arboretum.

Drakeford Drive is full of RFS vehicles.

Lots of waves from keen onlookers!

The kids loved the sight and sounds of the fire trucks going past.

ACT RFS units on Drakeford Drive, Kambah, receiving lots of support from people on the foot bridge.

The traffic starts to build up as we get closer to the Tuggeranong Town Centre.

Waiting at the lights.

Crews begin to arrive at Tuggers.

Friendly waves from members of the public.

SOU32 arrives with a toot.

More friendly waves from kids.

The final destination - across the road from Bunnings. A great time was had by all!

A View from the Top - Coree Fire Tower

The ACT has 4 fire towers surrounding it that are manned throughout the bushfire season. They are located on One Tree Hill to the North, Kowen Forest the the East, Mt Tennent to the South, and Mt Coree to the West. Tower operators can see all of the ACT and well into NSW and maintain a constant vigil looking for smoke and fires throughout the territory. They also provide regular weather reports that are used in IMTs and on the ground to assist in fire supression and planning activities.

The tower at Mt Coree has some of the best views around. Simon Demajo was up at Coree and took some photos of the tower in operation. Thanks for the photos Simon.

Coonabarabran Fire

ACT Rural Fire Service member, Tim Borough, who works for property section of the ANU in Canberra, was sent to Coonabarabran the day after the fire went through the Siding Spring Observatory. There was no qualified tanker driver available so Tim donned a set of yellows and helped black out the site. See more stories here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-14/aerial-photo-shows-fire-approaching-siding-springs-observatory/4463138
 http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/186700031.html 

ACT RFS member, Tim Borough, mans the Siding Spring Observatory tanker for blackout duty.

Helitak 274, normally based at Camden, lands at Siding Springs Observatory, Coonabarabran. Photo: Tim Borough

Tim feeds the sheep and cattle.

 

Helitak 274 takes off for more water-bombing of the fire. Photo: Tim Borough

Sand Hills Fire (near Bungendore, NSW)

Late on Tuesday 8 Jan 2013, an ACT RFS Strike Team was sent to the Sand Hills Fire near Bungendore to assist in the containment of a fast-moving grass / scrub fire. The Kings Highway was closed while crews back burned and kept the fire on the north side of the Kings Highway.  A number of rural houses were protected with tankers standing by.

Note: If any ACT or NSW RFS crew members have more photos of this incident, can you please email them to gary.hooker@bigpond.com and he will put the best shots up on this Blog.

ACT Strike Force responding to Sand Hills Fire along the Kings Highway, near Bungendore, NSW. Photo Anura Samara

The Kings Highway was closed due to the fire threat.Photo: Anura Samara

SOU10 crew get ready to attack fire approaching the Kings Highway. Photo: Garry Mayo

A NSW Unit blacking out the perimter. Photo: Garry Mayo

Fire approaches Kings Highway. Photo: Garry Mayo

Running grass fire. Photo: Garry Mayo

Heavy tankers fill up from a dam. Photo: Garry Mayo

The wind kept changing direction.  Photo: Tina Siver

Running flame in the paddocks. Photo: Garry Mayo

The grassfire approaches a property with the crew of MLO10 ready to defend it. Photo: Rob Allard

The crew of MLO10 along with NSW RFS Units successfully knocks down the approaching flame. Photo: Rob Allard

The MLO10 crew protecting the boundary fence of a property. Photo: Rob Allard

MLO10 and NSW heavy tankers protect the buildings on the property. Photo: Rob Allard

Flames running up the trees as the fire passed the property. Photo: Rob Allard

The fire passes through leaving smouldering scrub. Photo: Rob Allard

NSW and ACT Tankers on the Kings Highway. Photo: Garry Mayo

A Candle blows in the wind. Photo: Garry Mayo

Crews backburning along Kings Highway. Photo: Garry Mayo

9 January 2013 - Containment work and mop up continues.........

Burnt Bugs Bunny on side of tree. Bungendore is renowned worldwide for its impressive display of teddy bears and other fluffy creatures sitting in trees along the Kings Highway. Photo: Tim Borough

 

Work continues to secure the edge of fire near the Kings Highway. Photo: Tim Borough

Foam is used to suppress re-ignition of the tree. Photo: Tim Borough

The Rural Fire Service chopper sucks water out of a dam in a paddock. Photo: Tim Borough

The RFS helicopter gets ready to dump water onto the fire. Photo: Tim Borough

Back burning along the Kings Highway. Photo: John Jenkins

More back burning along the Kings highway - the flames took off! Photo: John Jenkins

GCRK10 crew burning along the edge of the Kings Highway. Photo: John Jenkins