Climate change is supercharging the way bushfires burn, so this science is crucial
Scientists working to predict 'freak' fire weather simulate some of Australia's toughest blazes
www.abc.net.au
Firefighters are reporting increasingly erratic weather conditions on the frontline. Now scientists are hoping a supercomputer will be able to help them predict dangerous fire tornados and winds.Reminder - The Restricted Burning Period Starts Tomorrow!
Permits to Burn are required between the 1st of October to 30 November (unless closed off early due to weather conditions)
A few notes from the City of Kalamunda,
You may obtain a fire permit to burn by contacting the City of Kalamunda on (08) 9257 9999 from Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Residents can still legally burn a garden refuse pile without a fire permit. This should not exceed 1 cubic meter (1m x 1m x 1m), between 6pm and out by 11pm fully extinguished by midnight.
Fire Permit conditions are as follows -
• Weather conditions are not dangerous
• that a means of extinguishing the fire is available,
• ensure appropriate firebreaks or hazard reduction around burn area,
• all neighbours are notified, and an adult remains in attendance of the fire at all times.
• Fire is properly extinguished to avoid re-ignition
It is the responsibility of all residents wanting to burn to check weather conditions and always ensure no burning is to occur if:
• NO burning when a Total Fire Ban has been declared
• NO burning when the Fire Danger Rating is Very High or above
• NO burning when winds exceed 15km/h
Hints for planned burning:
• Planned burning under mild and stable weather conditions means the fire burns more
slowly and with lower flame heights.
• Fires burn more rapidly when moving up a slope. For every 10 degree increase in uphill
slope, a fire will double its speed and intensity.
• When undertaking a planned burn, fires should be lit at the top of a slope to burn
downwards and against the wind.
• If you plan to burn, check the weather first. Wind speed, wind direction and relative
humidity will all affect your burn.
• Only burn when winds are between 5 and 20km/h. (Subject to local permit conditions)
• Check when it last rained – it’s ideal to burn 2 days after significant rainfall (5
millimetres or greater), but no more than 10 days.
• After your burn, check the area several times a day for at least 2 days, longer if the
weather becomes hotter, drier or windier.
• Your burn may continue to smoulder for several days and could potentially reignite and
start a bushfire. Monitor the area until you are confident that the burn is completely
extinguished.
For further information please visit www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/our-city/fire
Fire & Emergency Management | City of Kalamunda
www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au
A bushfire related hazard is defined as anything contrary to the current Fire Hazard Reduction Notice. This includes but is not limited to excessive fuel loads and poor or nonexistent fire breaks.Jerry Hutter
Tom Dargie
The Brigade is conducting a burn today on Mitchell road in Walliston
Changes to the Emergency WA bushfire warning colours are now in effect. Please have a look at the DFES short video for more information.
www.emergency.wa.gov.au/
How volunteer firefighters learn to save houses from fires — and what you can do too
How volunteer firefighters learn to save houses from fires — and what you can do too
www.abc.net.au
Big bushfires have devastated large swathes of the country, destroying homes and taking hundreds of lives, but it is house fires that are the most insidious killer.
Four Brigade members were awarded with (very) long service awards at the Christmas in July function on Saturday night. Between them the four gentleman pictured here have provided over 90 years of service to the Brigade and the community. Mike Lennon, Andrew Stubbs, and Chris Grubba all joined the Brigade in 2000, were awarded Life Membership in 2015, and received 20 year service Awards, while Sean Winter joined the Brigade in 1990, was awarded Life Membership in 2005, and received a 30 year service Award.
Having long term volunteers in the Brigade is crucial to the our capacity to protect our community. They hold considerable stores of local and institutional knowledge which is crucial to firefighting operations, and they are an integral part of training new volunteers as they join and progress through the Brigade.
Long term members almost inevitably get involved in running the Brigade. All four of these gentlemen have held numerous leadership positions in the past, including Captain, Lieutenant, Training Officer, Equipment Officer, Hazard Reduction Officer, Secretary and Treasurer, and they all still hold positions - Andrew is the Equipment Officer, and Mike holds the position of Incident Support Officer with the Brigade, while Chris is in charge of the Bushfire Ready Program, and Sean is the Deputy Chief Bushfire Control Officer, both volunteer positions with the City.
Congratulations and thank you to all four.
Congratulations Dad (Chris), between Volunteering your time with the Bushies, the Bush Fire Ready Group, driving me to all my scans, bloods and everything Hospital. You really are amazing. Not all Superheroes wear capes.!!!! Well done to all the Brigade too. You all are amazing People. ❤️❤️❤️
I remember all four of these gentlemen and congratulate them for their years of dedication and service. I hope to come back again soon as I am back in the district
Congratulations, guys. Tremendous, outstanding dedication and contribution.
Congrats guys. Mike always a professional on the fireground
Congrats guys, we are lucky to have mentors such as you in our brigade 😊👌
Congratulations to you all and thanks for your efforts over the years 😊
Commendable effort gents. Well done! 🔥
Well done. Great achievement 👍
Awesome people! Can't rate them highly enough!
Well done guys 👍👍👍
Congratulations gentlemen, a job well done.
Congratulations gentlemen, well deserved!
Well done guy’s
Congratulations guys. Great achievement.
Congratulations gentlemen well deserved
At our Christmas in July party on Saturday night, the Brigade also inducted a new Life Member of the Brigade. Life Membership is awarded to members who demonstrate a long term and considerable commitment to the Brigade and by extension, the community we serve. Members become eligible to be considered for Life Membership after 15 years of active service, after which they also need to satisfy a number of other criteria.
This year's recipient, Duncan Reynolds, met those criteria with flying colours. Dunc joined the Brigade as a cadet in 2006 and rapidly became one of our most dedicated and reliable members. Since 2006 Dunc has attended 410 emergency incidents, has held the positions of Captain, First Lieutenant, Lieutenant and Crew Leader, and was awarded the Mark Loohuys Firefighter of the Year award in 2011. He currently serves as a Lieutenant. It is an absolute honour to extend Life Membership with the Kalamunda Volunteer Bushfire Brigade to Dunc.
Great job Dunc. Massive respect for anyone who serves as Captain given how demanding that job is
You're too young to be a lifer Duncan....but you certainly deserve it. Congrats and well done!!!!
Well done mate, Life Membership is a very prestigious award to receive and you will cherish the honour for a lifetime.
Congrats Dunc, well deserved! 🥳
Congratulations Duncan
Congratulations Duncan, well deserved.
Congrats mate
Unbelievable Effort Duncs!
Well done, Big Sauce!
Well done Dunk
Congratulations Duncan Reynolds. Welcome to the life members group.
Congratulations a great achievement 👍👍
Well deserved Duncan
Congratulations Duncan, well deserved!
Well deserved Duncinator!
Congratulations Duncan!
Congratulations Duncan
Congratulations Duncan well deserved
Last night the Brigade held a Christmas in July function. We have decided to move our annual Christmas party to the middle of the year, because fires kept interrupting the festivities when we held it in December... At last night's function a number of awards were given out and we'll post some of them here over the next few days.
The first is the Mark Loohuys Firefighter of the Year award, given to the Brigade member adjudged to have best exemplified the spirit of being a top firefighter over the past 12 months. The award is named to honour and keep alive the memory of Mark Loohuys, who was both a Brigade member and serving police officer, who was killed in the line of duty in February 2000.
The recipient of the award this year was Liam Day. Liam only joined the Brigade last year, but over the past 12 months has impressed mightily with his professional and dedicated approach, to first completing basic training and probation, and then during his first fire season as an active firefighter. Well done Liam!
Congratulations Liam and I love that the brigade and it's members still remember Mark with this trophy. Keep up the great work KVBFS..
Well done Liam, Being a former member of the KVBFB, and good friending Marks, you’ve done the award proud.
Well done Liam, congratulations, you are great example of volunteering.
Well done mate! Nailed it!
What a LEGEND Liam Day 🙌
Well deserved Liam
Good job Liam Day 👍👍
Well done Liam!
Congratulations mate, well deserved. 😊👍
Well done Liam
Congratulations
Nice work Liam!!
Brilliant idea.
Yeeehaa mate, well done!
Well done Liam, well done.
Well done mate.
Good work Liam!!
Onya Liam, well deserved mate
Congratulations Liam 👏
Fabulous story. What you might not know is that we still have fire lookouts here in Western Australia, operated by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions and they are a crucial part of the battle against wildfires.
Wildfire watchmen: the mountain tower where lookouts spot blazes
www.theguardian.com
Despite advances in fire-monitoring technology, volunteers in California remain a crucial defense amid worsening fire seasons