July 7, 2026 • 6 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, it had been a bit of a weird start
(00:01):
to the dry season, with a bit of rain still
lingering around last week, but certainly we know that that
rain has also meant that the fuel loads have probably
been greater with a lot of scrubland and bush out there,
and it's beginning to dry out, which means no doubt
we're going to see more bushfires begin to crop up.
(00:22):
And joining us on the line is Brendan Magnoli, the
chief fire Officer control officer from Bushfires NT. Good morning
to you, Brendan.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
How are you? Yeah? Really good? Lovely to have you
on the show now. Brendan, I've noticed over the last
couple of mornings there certainly seems to be a bit
more smoke about and we've seen more alerts popping up
regarding those bushfires out in the rural area. What are
crews starting to deal with at the moment.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yes, Katie, we have had a large surge of fires
in the area, especially in the very Springs and done
with the dam area, So CRUs have been pretty active
thread the last week or so. Just the last couple
of days they've have escalated, which we have been finding
it's a lot more work than well we anticipated for
this time of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah right, And so has there sort of been a
few significant fires they or are they the usual kind
of thing that you see.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
No, these have been significant fires, especially the one yesterday
out at Darnover Dam. Were actually still have crews on
that today. With the size of the fire and where
it's located, usually it will have some mitigation work already completed. However,
with the extended wet season and the rain that we
have been having, we haven't now access with machinery, so
breaks haven't been able to be put in, and it
(01:38):
has stopped a load of mitigation work from occurring, both
by us and by the local landowners.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah right, that makes things hard. Tell us how big
is this fire that you've still got cruise out at?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
This one is pretty significant. There's actually four different areas
within this region that the fires were replaced, so there's
four different ignition points, so we're working through It's we're
looking at probably around a fifty square kilometer mark where
the fires are. So yeah, it is pretty all around
the western side and the southern side of Dunover down Brendon.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
How tough is it then? You know, as you just
touched on. Like in previous previous years, you would have
been able to get machinery in there, you would have
been able to do some of that mitigation work. How
tough is it having not been able to do some
of that work.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
It is very tough. My crews have the weather, there's
lots of winds picked up already, and without those breaks
in place, our crews have nothing to do strategic backbunds
from to try and protect properly behind it. So we've
had to try and find where there are existing breaks,
which are usually roads or we're coiling in heavy machinery,
to try and do as much as they can.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Okay, and so given the fact that you know, given
the fact that the fires have sort of started, now,
can you still do some of that control burning and
that kind of thing. Not necessarily in that location, but
in others there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Is still the opportunity to do some control burning. However,
it is very weather dependent. But depending on the winds
at the time and what the fuel loader is doing.
If it is very thick fuel, it's going to be
very heart to undertake those mitigation burns. So it's very
touch and go at that area. We're at now.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, So, Brendan, does this mean that the reality probably
is for bushfires into up in the top end this year,
that it's going to be a difficult sort of season
in the sense that we had such a huge wet
season and those fuel loads will be greater.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yes, it has looked that way, Katie. We just like
I said earlier, this says well above what we expect
at this time of year. However, with that weather that
we had earlier, with all the rains, the fuel loads
expeeded expectations and unable to put fire breaks in and
do mitigation workin the landovers have been mentioning that they
haven't going to get machinery to clear their brakes, which
(03:54):
we totally understand. So it has made it very hard
this some year.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah. And so how many people you got out there today?
And I'm assuming that you've got your volleys out there too, Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Definitely, we'd staff and volunteers out at the down with
a dam. I'll get that on a light this morning.
So we've actually got a helicopter up there mapping the
area to see where it moved across through the night,
and they're highlighting any hot spots that we have in
the area and crews are trying to get into those
as soon as we can.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Well, it really highlights, you know, the amazing work that
you guys do as well, and that's you know, not
just stuff, but also those volunteers. I mean, I'm assuming
you're always looking for more volunteers as well.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Definitely looking for more volunteers. If anyone's in their local
air and another volunteergay, definitely go in and say hello,
introduce yourself and if you want to be a part
of it, be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Brendon, what advice are you giving property owners, as you know,
as things do dry out, but also as you've touched
on there a few times, not being able to get
the machinery and stuff that they would usually watch, you know,
what is your advice to locals.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Would still like the locals to attempt to put their
brakes in, however, be very careful when they are cutting
their brakes and if they do cause a spark, if
they do hit a stone or something with their slashes,
and they need to be onto that straight away to
put a fire out if it does occur. But more
they can put in, the better it is for us.
We're getting to the point where it can only be
machine brakes. Putting fly to ground is going to get
(05:18):
very difficult and very dangerous. Sort of verging on that way,
not to have the landowners use fire, However, there are
some cases where it's unavoidable.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Brendan, anything else we should be aware of this morning.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, we still, like I said earlier, we have the
aircraft in the air, so definitely no drones flying around
the aircraft. And yeah, if there's our fire crews in
the area, slow down, lights on. We're expecting the winds
to pick up again today. They actually are blown pretty
steady at the moment out here. So yeah, just listen
to advice, listen to ABC, listen to everyone that can
(05:53):
get it, and just make sure that they make themselves safe.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Well. Brendan Magnalie, the chief fire control Officer for Bushfires,
and to really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so
much for having a chat with us, another problem chat.
Thank you, Thanks so much,
Well, it had been a bit of a weird start
(00:01):
to the dry season, with a bit of rain still
lingering around last week, but certainly we know that that
rain has also meant that the fuel loads have probably
been greater with a lot of scrubland and bush out there,
and it's beginning to dry out, which means no doubt
we're going to see more bushfires begin to crop up.
(00:22):
And joining us on the line is Brendan Magnoli, the
chief fire Officer control officer from Bushfires NT. Good morning
to you, Brendan.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
How are you? Yeah? Really good? Lovely to have you
on the show now. Brendan, I've noticed over the last
couple of mornings there certainly seems to be a bit
more smoke about and we've seen more alerts popping up
regarding those bushfires out in the rural area. What are
crews starting to deal with at the moment.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yes, Katie, we have had a large surge of fires
in the area, especially in the very Springs and done
with the dam area, So CRUs have been pretty active
thread the last week or so. Just the last couple
of days they've have escalated, which we have been finding
it's a lot more work than well we anticipated for
this time of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah right, And so has there sort of been a
few significant fires they or are they the usual kind
of thing that you see.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
No, these have been significant fires, especially the one yesterday
out at Darnover Dam. Were actually still have crews on
that today. With the size of the fire and where
it's located, usually it will have some mitigation work already completed. However,
with the extended wet season and the rain that we
have been having, we haven't now access with machinery, so
breaks haven't been able to be put in, and it
(01:38):
has stopped a load of mitigation work from occurring, both
by us and by the local landowners.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah right, that makes things hard. Tell us how big
is this fire that you've still got cruise out at?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
This one is pretty significant. There's actually four different areas
within this region that the fires were replaced, so there's
four different ignition points, so we're working through It's we're
looking at probably around a fifty square kilometer mark where
the fires are. So yeah, it is pretty all around
the western side and the southern side of Dunover down Brendon.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
How tough is it then? You know, as you just
touched on. Like in previous previous years, you would have
been able to get machinery in there, you would have
been able to do some of that mitigation work. How
tough is it having not been able to do some
of that work.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
It is very tough. My crews have the weather, there's
lots of winds picked up already, and without those breaks
in place, our crews have nothing to do strategic backbunds
from to try and protect properly behind it. So we've
had to try and find where there are existing breaks,
which are usually roads or we're coiling in heavy machinery,
to try and do as much as they can.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Okay, and so given the fact that you know, given
the fact that the fires have sort of started, now,
can you still do some of that control burning and
that kind of thing. Not necessarily in that location, but
in others there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Is still the opportunity to do some control burning. However,
it is very weather dependent. But depending on the winds
at the time and what the fuel loader is doing.
If it is very thick fuel, it's going to be
very heart to undertake those mitigation burns. So it's very
touch and go at that area. We're at now.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, So, Brendan, does this mean that the reality probably
is for bushfires into up in the top end this year,
that it's going to be a difficult sort of season
in the sense that we had such a huge wet
season and those fuel loads will be greater.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yes, it has looked that way, Katie. We just like
I said earlier, this says well above what we expect
at this time of year. However, with that weather that
we had earlier, with all the rains, the fuel loads
expeeded expectations and unable to put fire breaks in and
do mitigation workin the landovers have been mentioning that they
haven't going to get machinery to clear their brakes, which
(03:54):
we totally understand. So it has made it very hard
this some year.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah. And so how many people you got out there today?
And I'm assuming that you've got your volleys out there too, Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Definitely, we'd staff and volunteers out at the down with
a dam. I'll get that on a light this morning.
So we've actually got a helicopter up there mapping the
area to see where it moved across through the night,
and they're highlighting any hot spots that we have in
the area and crews are trying to get into those
as soon as we can.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Well, it really highlights, you know, the amazing work that
you guys do as well, and that's you know, not
just stuff, but also those volunteers. I mean, I'm assuming
you're always looking for more volunteers as well.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Definitely looking for more volunteers. If anyone's in their local
air and another volunteergay, definitely go in and say hello,
introduce yourself and if you want to be a part
of it, be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Brendon, what advice are you giving property owners, as you know,
as things do dry out, but also as you've touched
on there a few times, not being able to get
the machinery and stuff that they would usually watch, you know,
what is your advice to locals.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Would still like the locals to attempt to put their
brakes in, however, be very careful when they are cutting
their brakes and if they do cause a spark, if
they do hit a stone or something with their slashes,
and they need to be onto that straight away to
put a fire out if it does occur. But more
they can put in, the better it is for us.
We're getting to the point where it can only be
machine brakes. Putting fly to ground is going to get
(05:18):
very difficult and very dangerous. Sort of verging on that way,
not to have the landowners use fire, However, there are
some cases where it's unavoidable.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Brendan, anything else we should be aware of this morning.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, we still, like I said earlier, we have the
aircraft in the air, so definitely no drones flying around
the aircraft. And yeah, if there's our fire crews in
the area, slow down, lights on. We're expecting the winds
to pick up again today. They actually are blown pretty
steady at the moment out here. So yeah, just listen
to advice, listen to ABC, listen to everyone that can
(05:53):
get it, and just make sure that they make themselves safe.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Well. Brendan Magnalie, the chief fire control Officer for Bushfires,
and to really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so
much for having a chat with us, another problem chat.
Thank you, Thanks so much,
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