Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that firefighters are well getting under control
and they have as I understand it, a fire near
the Barkley Work Camp. Catastrophic fire danger though is forecast
for some areas of the Barkley today. And joining us
in the studio right now is Joshua Fisher, the acting
Chief fire Control Officer with Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service.
(00:21):
Good morning to you, Josh, Good morning Katie. Now what's
the latest with this fire?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah, so, yesterday afternoon, Triple zero received a call of
a fire just to the east of Tenant Creek. Northern
Church of Fire Rescue Service responded to that. That was
about soon after three pm yesterday. We identified that the
fire was quite a significant way outside of TenneT Creek
in bushfires in t's response area, and as such, a
(00:47):
joint response was initiated between ntfires and bushfires in TA.
That fire yesterday evening was elevated to watch an actors
it burnt progressively closer to the township of Tenant Creek.
At around soon after seven pm, we commenced some backburning
operations around Tenant Creek, so on the eastern and northern
(01:09):
sides of Tenant Creek. Just as the fire approached Pico Road,
that successfully effectively protected the township and prevented the fire
from impacting Tenant Creek Township itself. Later on that evening,
at around quarter to ten, the fire was in again
the Pico Road and the Goss River area, and what
(01:29):
we identified at the Peco mine site was the fire
had burnt through the mine site. Three people were thankfully
located safe in their vehicles at the mine site, but
some machinery was destroyed as the fire moved through that area.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
With a and any danger those three.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
People, certainly they are in the path of the fire
and as the fire approached that mind site, but they
were safe and unharmed, So that was certainly a thankful
outcome as that fire went through the mind site. But
unfortunately there are some losses with some machinery, but we're
still trying to piece that together today. Is a true
extent of the damage in that So.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
You're talking sort of mining machinery there that's been lost, yes.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Correct, Yeah, but we'll have more information as we undertake
those assessments today. Obviously, the fire then continued to spread
and did cross the Stuart Highway to the west and
is now burning in Philip Creek Station. One of the considerations,
just to demonstrate the significance of this fire, we were
considering evacuations, particularly in the areas directly adjoining the firebreak.
(02:32):
The fire behavior was quite intense, and for anyone that
was listening that may have been in TenneT Creek, they
could probably back this up that there was a significant glow,
lots of fire activity around Tenant Creek, and obviously the
efforts of our volunteers and career firefighters supported with bush
fires into as well and landowners were able to successfully
(02:53):
steer the fire around Tenant Creek and minimize those impacts.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Well, that is lucky to hear, all good to hear.
Just tell me when you're talking about considering those evacuations,
what areas were you looking at potentially evacuating and how
many people.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, so it's obviously the areas around Pico Road. We've
got the Barkley Work Camp. We obviously had the mind sits,
there's a speedway, there's all sorts of stuff there. But
it's more around those homes and residential properties that are
adjacent to the area that we're planning to backburn in
the event that our backburn is unsuccessful and that fire
continues to spread. It wasn't a risk that the fire
(03:29):
is going to burn through Tenant Creek township itself, but
it's all those residential properties that are adjacent to grass
and bush land, and with the fire behavior that we
were experiencing, it did present a risk. But thankfully we
were able to implement those those control strategies and we
didn't have to put that in place.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
What kind of resources were required to get that under
control last night.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So we had two grass fire units and a tanker
as well as bushfires into grass fire units and their tanker.
Tenant Creek's a small place. We don't have a large
volume of resources that are available between either agencies. We've
got some additional resources in place today, so we've got
a rotary wing helicopter that's supporting. We've got fixed wing
(04:15):
area water bombers that will be arriving there shortly. We've
got some additional Incident Management team support that's heading there
today and that's not only for this fire, but it's
for the broader fires that are appearing across Central Australia
at this time. So we're again on the back of
the Barkley Complex we're boosting up resources and shifting our
resources to where they're most needed.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Josh, how tough are the conditions expected to be today?
It sounds like it was pretty rough last night. What
are you expecting today and over the next twenty four
to forty eight hours.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
So today we've got fire bands declared for the Barkley North,
Barkley South, Gregory Southeast and the Simpson Eest fire where
the forecast area is so quite a large portion of
the Northern Territory today is in firebands, and that's because
we've got extreme fired asia and as you mentioned, some
parts in the Barkley where we're going to see pockets
of catastrophic fire danger that's predominantly driven by the wind
(05:06):
and obviously the fuel loads that are in those areas,
which obviously then drive the fire behavior. So we're expecting
wing us up to fifty kilometers an hour. It's going
to be pretty tough, you know. The message. During these
periods we've got such fire whether events occurring, there's no
possible way that we can get a firefighters and a
fire vehicle to every single property if a fire was
(05:27):
to start. Our resources are limited, so we will direct
them to where they're going to have the most effect.
We're obviously going to prioritize saving life and then saving property,
but the message is clear, we physically don't have enough
resources that if a large fire, and with all the
other fires that we're currently experiencing across the NT, they
outnumber the amount of physical resources that we have.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I mean, that's a pretty die warning, I guess for
territorians out there listening who are in those areas, it
sounds as though there's quite a bit of work underway
to try to make sure that that isn't the case
and that doesn't happen. But how tough are things right now?
Considering the fact that our fire is bush fires into
all our volleys, all those station owners have been fighting
fires in these areas for weeks now.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, correct, obviously fatigue is front of mind. But for
both the fire agencies, you know, we've been in the
top end fire season. You know, we've been fighting fires
since the end of last week, so since May, we've
been actively responding to fires. We've had an increased number
of fires occurring in the Top end this year, and
as we know, we've been able to charge some individuals
(06:37):
for lighting fires and we've got investigations continuing, which also
includes the fire from yesterday east of Tenant Creek. It
does put astrayin on us. What's important for us to
do is to monitor that fatigue and we'll shift resources
as we need to augment that. But the message is
clear if you own a rural property, you need to
(06:59):
be prepared for fire. The risk of fire never leaves
the NT. Nearly one hundred percent of the NT can
be at risk of fire, and what we've got in
Central Australia is those increased fuel loads which is obviously
making this fire season that decade or fire event. So
we ask people that they be prepared, make sure they've
got a bushfire survival plan. If you are a larger
(07:20):
rural property owner, make sure you've got your fire brakes
in place to give you the best protection and allow
us access to be able to take those defensive backburning
operations if we need to.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Josh, I know the recent fires over the past weeks
around that area have been hugely significant in their sheer size,
and you know what our fires and bushfires have been
dealing with. But when you talk about that one from
last night, is that the closest that we've come to
loss of life. You know.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Look, we've had for this year alone, over six thousand
grass and bushfires across the territory. You know, we've had
a number of emergency warnings issued here in the top end,
so it's not uncommon that we've got these quite significant
fire events that can put lives at risk. So you know,
this isn't necessarily an isolated incident. It's an incident that's
(08:12):
occurring in quite a remote area of the Northern Territory
where we have limited resources. So we need to ensure
that the community is informed, that they understand what the
risks are so that they can take actions that are appropriate.
You know, we've had a number of fives this year
that have burnt through residential properties. We've had homes lost
in the rural area. This is why we continue to
(08:33):
say that the same message around preparing your property for fire.
Make sure you've got a fire break in place, have
a bush fire survival plan, and know where to get
accurate and up to date information.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Well. Acting Chief Fire Officer Josh Fisher always good to
catch up with you. Thanks so much for your time
this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Thanks Katie, Thank you
Now we know that firefighters are well getting under control
and they have as I understand it, a fire near
the Barkley Work Camp. Catastrophic fire danger though is forecast
for some areas of the Barkley today. And joining us
in the studio right now is Joshua Fisher, the acting
Chief fire Control Officer with Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service.
(00:21):
Good morning to you, Josh, Good morning Katie. Now what's
the latest with this fire?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah, so, yesterday afternoon, Triple zero received a call of
a fire just to the east of Tenant Creek. Northern
Church of Fire Rescue Service responded to that. That was
about soon after three pm yesterday. We identified that the
fire was quite a significant way outside of TenneT Creek
in bushfires in t's response area, and as such, a
(00:47):
joint response was initiated between ntfires and bushfires in TA.
That fire yesterday evening was elevated to watch an actors
it burnt progressively closer to the township of Tenant Creek.
At around soon after seven pm, we commenced some backburning
operations around Tenant Creek, so on the eastern and northern
(01:09):
sides of Tenant Creek. Just as the fire approached Pico Road,
that successfully effectively protected the township and prevented the fire
from impacting Tenant Creek Township itself. Later on that evening,
at around quarter to ten, the fire was in again
the Pico Road and the Goss River area, and what
(01:29):
we identified at the Peco mine site was the fire
had burnt through the mine site. Three people were thankfully
located safe in their vehicles at the mine site, but
some machinery was destroyed as the fire moved through that area.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
With a and any danger those three.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
People, certainly they are in the path of the fire
and as the fire approached that mind site, but they
were safe and unharmed, So that was certainly a thankful
outcome as that fire went through the mind site. But
unfortunately there are some losses with some machinery, but we're
still trying to piece that together today. Is a true
extent of the damage in that So.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
You're talking sort of mining machinery there that's been lost, yes.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Correct, Yeah, but we'll have more information as we undertake
those assessments today. Obviously, the fire then continued to spread
and did cross the Stuart Highway to the west and
is now burning in Philip Creek Station. One of the considerations,
just to demonstrate the significance of this fire, we were
considering evacuations, particularly in the areas directly adjoining the firebreak.
(02:32):
The fire behavior was quite intense, and for anyone that
was listening that may have been in TenneT Creek, they
could probably back this up that there was a significant glow,
lots of fire activity around Tenant Creek, and obviously the
efforts of our volunteers and career firefighters supported with bush
fires into as well and landowners were able to successfully
(02:53):
steer the fire around Tenant Creek and minimize those impacts.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Well, that is lucky to hear, all good to hear.
Just tell me when you're talking about considering those evacuations,
what areas were you looking at potentially evacuating and how
many people.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, so it's obviously the areas around Pico Road. We've
got the Barkley Work Camp. We obviously had the mind sits,
there's a speedway, there's all sorts of stuff there. But
it's more around those homes and residential properties that are
adjacent to the area that we're planning to backburn in
the event that our backburn is unsuccessful and that fire
continues to spread. It wasn't a risk that the fire
(03:29):
is going to burn through Tenant Creek township itself, but
it's all those residential properties that are adjacent to grass
and bush land, and with the fire behavior that we
were experiencing, it did present a risk. But thankfully we
were able to implement those those control strategies and we
didn't have to put that in place.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
What kind of resources were required to get that under
control last night.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So we had two grass fire units and a tanker
as well as bushfires into grass fire units and their tanker.
Tenant Creek's a small place. We don't have a large
volume of resources that are available between either agencies. We've
got some additional resources in place today, so we've got
a rotary wing helicopter that's supporting. We've got fixed wing
(04:15):
area water bombers that will be arriving there shortly. We've
got some additional Incident Management team support that's heading there
today and that's not only for this fire, but it's
for the broader fires that are appearing across Central Australia
at this time. So we're again on the back of
the Barkley Complex we're boosting up resources and shifting our
resources to where they're most needed.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Josh, how tough are the conditions expected to be today?
It sounds like it was pretty rough last night. What
are you expecting today and over the next twenty four
to forty eight hours.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
So today we've got fire bands declared for the Barkley North,
Barkley South, Gregory Southeast and the Simpson Eest fire where
the forecast area is so quite a large portion of
the Northern Territory today is in firebands, and that's because
we've got extreme fired asia and as you mentioned, some
parts in the Barkley where we're going to see pockets
of catastrophic fire danger that's predominantly driven by the wind
(05:06):
and obviously the fuel loads that are in those areas,
which obviously then drive the fire behavior. So we're expecting
wing us up to fifty kilometers an hour. It's going
to be pretty tough, you know. The message. During these
periods we've got such fire whether events occurring, there's no
possible way that we can get a firefighters and a
fire vehicle to every single property if a fire was
(05:27):
to start. Our resources are limited, so we will direct
them to where they're going to have the most effect.
We're obviously going to prioritize saving life and then saving property,
but the message is clear, we physically don't have enough
resources that if a large fire, and with all the
other fires that we're currently experiencing across the NT, they
outnumber the amount of physical resources that we have.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I mean, that's a pretty die warning, I guess for
territorians out there listening who are in those areas, it
sounds as though there's quite a bit of work underway
to try to make sure that that isn't the case
and that doesn't happen. But how tough are things right now?
Considering the fact that our fire is bush fires into
all our volleys, all those station owners have been fighting
fires in these areas for weeks now.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, correct, obviously fatigue is front of mind. But for
both the fire agencies, you know, we've been in the
top end fire season. You know, we've been fighting fires
since the end of last week, so since May, we've
been actively responding to fires. We've had an increased number
of fires occurring in the Top end this year, and
as we know, we've been able to charge some individuals
(06:37):
for lighting fires and we've got investigations continuing, which also
includes the fire from yesterday east of Tenant Creek. It
does put astrayin on us. What's important for us to
do is to monitor that fatigue and we'll shift resources
as we need to augment that. But the message is
clear if you own a rural property, you need to
(06:59):
be prepared for fire. The risk of fire never leaves
the NT. Nearly one hundred percent of the NT can
be at risk of fire, and what we've got in
Central Australia is those increased fuel loads which is obviously
making this fire season that decade or fire event. So
we ask people that they be prepared, make sure they've
got a bushfire survival plan. If you are a larger
(07:20):
rural property owner, make sure you've got your fire brakes
in place to give you the best protection and allow
us access to be able to take those defensive backburning
operations if we need to.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Josh, I know the recent fires over the past weeks
around that area have been hugely significant in their sheer size,
and you know what our fires and bushfires have been
dealing with. But when you talk about that one from
last night, is that the closest that we've come to
loss of life. You know.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Look, we've had for this year alone, over six thousand
grass and bushfires across the territory. You know, we've had
a number of emergency warnings issued here in the top end,
so it's not uncommon that we've got these quite significant
fire events that can put lives at risk. So you know,
this isn't necessarily an isolated incident. It's an incident that's
(08:12):
occurring in quite a remote area of the Northern Territory
where we have limited resources. So we need to ensure
that the community is informed, that they understand what the
risks are so that they can take actions that are appropriate.
You know, we've had a number of fives this year
that have burnt through residential properties. We've had homes lost
in the rural area. This is why we continue to
(08:33):
say that the same message around preparing your property for fire.
Make sure you've got a fire break in place, have
a bush fire survival plan, and know where to get
accurate and up to date information.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Well. Acting Chief Fire Officer Josh Fisher always good to
catch up with you. Thanks so much for your time
this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Thanks Katie, Thank you
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