Thread: NSW Fires

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

The big concern is fire getting into the Grose Valley. It's surrounded by an escarpment (with up to 500m cliffs) and is exceptionally difficult country to operate in - virtually impossible. Last night a crew went out on foot to burn a containment line from Blackheath across to the northern side between Bell and Bilpin.

Wow! Unless they abseiled in, that's a 4-5 hour walk, just to get to the bottom!

God bless 'em...

Yeah, there's no easy way in. Even to go into Blue Gum Forest from Perry's Lookdown is 1800 tortuous stairs/steps. I have a pic of a guy abseiling off Hanging Rock at Baltzer Lookout and it's a sheer drop of 500m. Most of the valley is surrounded by 100m cliffs followed by the rest of the drop which is typically 30-45° ridges running down. Both those locations mentioned are out of the north side of Blackheath. Does that make the locals Blackheathens?

Dave, I've only got one double mattress to go in the loungeroom, but another yellow body could go on a jimmy-up of lounge mattresses which wouldn't be too bad (esp. if your knackered). I can make the room fairly dark, but understand that the cats won't be impressed at losing their arvo nap spot on the front window. I guess they'll get over it.

Happy to p/u and d/o to Lithgow, as long as the hwy is open.(normally about 45 minutes each way)

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

Very hard to sleep here. It is light and stuff going on around us though everyone is generally trying to be considerate.

I got to bed about 8 am have been woken 3 times. My crew leader is lying with his eyes open as he can't sleep either. Our shift is 7 pm to 7 am. Sleep from 8 - 2 would be nice.

Dave

See if you can source some foam style ear plugs for the noise aspect and an eye mask (I think the airlines sometimes used to supply these, not that I'm suggesting you need to take a flight) for the light. This is the technique I use for my night shifts and it works passably well. You might be able to improvise with cotton wool for the ear plugs, but they won't be as good.

If you have access to chainsaws, you might also have ear plugs available associated with that.

Stay safe even when you're dog tired.

Regards
Paul

Silicon putty earplugs are the best (from a Pharmacy). I'll be relying on them to keep ozhunter out of my dreams when we go to the Melbourne Backsaw class next month.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Dave, I've only got one double mattress to go in the loungeroom, but another yellow body could go on a jimmy-up of lounge mattresses which wouldn't be too bad (esp. if your knackered). I can make the room fairly dark, but understand that the cats won't be impressed at losing their arvo nap spot on the front window. I guess they'll get over it.

Happy to p/u and d/o to Lithgow, as long as the hwy is open.(normally about 45 minutes each way)

Ditto, except for the cats. (They've already bailed! )

We can easily make room for three or four heads here, too. Can't do much about the damned cicadas, though...

G'day Brett. Not sure how the hwy is. As you can no doubt guess, Im awake and just not getting any sleep lol. I'll put it to my crew and see what they think. We can probably 'borrow' a couple of camp beds from here. Im guessing it is about a 45 minute drive each way? I will let you know by diner time

Paul ... I seriously thought about the blind folds. Never tried em before but i think it would help, been using my hat which worked but it falls off my face when i roll over, can smell my 'head odor' too lol. Unfortunately I find ear plugs incredibly hard to wear, they irritate me more than they help.

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

Unfortunately I find ear plugs incredibly hard to wear, they irritate me more than they help.

Silicon putty is pretty comfortable - takes a little while to get used to the sound of your breathing (like when you're snorkelling), but very effective. I have three unused pairs here.

If you can get some stretchers then we can sleep about thee here I'd say. There's our bed too of course. Get another three "close buddies" on the smaller side in there easily.

Skew, given that you have a station wagon and I only have a Corolla hatch, maybe Ann could take our car to work tomorrow so that your wagon is available to carry blokes and stretchers?

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Skew, given that you have a station wagon and I only have a Corolla hatch, maybe Ann could take our car to work tomorrow so that your wagon is available to carry blokes and stretchers?

That's do-able.

I don't know whether the Hwy is open from Hartley to Lithgow, although the RTA's livetraffic shows good flow up to Hartley from here.


Just as an aside, the firey's are now going thru the North end of Katoomba doing an official head count and situation appraisals. It probably sounds silly, but it gave me a moment's peace of mind just having a functional fire-fighting vehicle parked out the front while they door-knocked this section. (There's a lot to be said for bucket-brigades... but not when the brigade only consists of the wife and me! )

Faulconbridge has come alive with lots of sirens, choppers, water bombers plus a heap more smoke to the north east of us in the Chapman Pde area.....

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

That's do-able.

Rightio, we'll see what Dave says later.

Stay safe crowie.

One big positive for today is that the max temp only got to 26° - much lower than what was feared.

Looks like it would only be me. One guy sleeps thru anything and the other guy does not want to travel so far from base.

I have a friend who used to live here and she is chasing up to see if there is local which should save you quite some kms. Still waiting to hear back


Dave

The Turning Cowboy

This evening it's calm outside, a lot cooler and no wind.....

We have a obvious orange glow over were the water bombers were active this afternoon.

Thanks to all the fire fighters for so much effort again today.

I hope that everyone is OK over there, my thoughts are with you all. May you ALL be safe.
Kryn

Brett if you are good for tomorrow I should be in at the show grounds by 7. Whatever time suits you after then. I can have breakfast first if that is too early and if the road is open.

Tonight we are working mount Wilson Road. If is quiet here which is a good thing. The rest of the crew is on bell line road. The fire can be seen all all around that area.

Ive had poor signal all might but just stopped at what I believe to be Mount Wilson fire station for coffee.




Dave

The Turning Cowboy