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03
BANGALEE SCOUT CAMP SECTION 44
On Wednesday 13 October 2004 at 1240hrs a triple
zero call was received by Wollongong Comms for
bush alight at the Bangalee Scout Camp in North
Nowra. By 1500hrs crews had been in property
protection and the fire was declared a Section 44
`bushfire emergency’.
The fire, burning on a 100 metre front in private
property when crews first arrived, was fanned by
very hot, dry, northwest winds and soon entered
forest vegetation rapidly gaining intensity.
Access to the fast moving head under these
conditions was impossible. Additional resources
were mobilized for property protection at Gypsy
Point Road where initial attack crews were also
redeployed. The urban interface of North Nowra was
only two kilometres away.
Other agencies were brought in to assist and
aircraft were deployed early in the firefighting effort.
The fire crossed Gypsy Point Road at 1331hrs
impacting on properties. The tactics employed at
this stage were to undertake property protection
due to excessive ember attack, radiant heat and
fire conditions. An additional strike team was
requested at 1348hrs to assist district crews.
Police advised they were supervising voluntary
evacuations from the Coconut Drive area. The Nowra
Showground was set up as an evacuation centre. Only
10 people registered, the rest opting to stay with
their houses and assist firefighters. This was reported
to have provided valuable local knowledge, assistance
in combating the fire and reduced the impact from
evacuations on supporting agencies.
The head of the fire ran quickly to the east being
contained at a power easement to the rear of Coconut
Drive properties and at Pitt Street, an urban perimeter
road. An isolated house off a track in the Pitt Street
area was destroyed during the run of fire.
The southern flank of the fire was contained
at private property along Crams Road. A small
number of spot overs to the south did occur but
were contained with aggressive aerial bombing and
ground attack. Property protection along Crams
Road was also undertaken with the loss of a small
number of storage sheds and plant.
The northern flank of the fire burned rapidly up
slope to the rear of properties along Warrah Road with
several structure and property losses occurring.
The southerly change at 1900 hrs that night
was weaker than expected allowing direct attack
firefighting to continue. A bulldozer was used to
clean up a track on the northwest flank where a
tactical backburn was employed to fully contain
the fire.
Considering the extreme weather conditions the
losses due to this fire were minimal. Individual
property preparedness and quick action by
volunteer firefighters, other agencies and the public
meant damage was kept to a minimum.
FIRE FACTS
BRIGADES
Cambewarra, Illaroo Road,
Kangaroo Valley, Beaumont,
Shoalhaven Heads, Greenwell Point, Falls Creek,
Culburra, Callala Bay, Tomerong, Huskisson,
Erowal Bay, Sanctuary Point, Basin View,
Wandandian, Sussex Inlet, Fishermans Paradise,
Tabourie, Central Catering, Headquarters.
PERSONNEL
RFS 196
NPWS 20
NSWFB 80
AIRCRAFT
3
AGENCIES COMBAT
RFS / NPWS / NSWFB
SUPPORT
Police / Ambulance / DoCS / SES / Integral
Energy / Shoalhaven Hospital / Council
HECTARES
235 Ha 230 private / 5 Crown
Story by Cameron Wade and Adam Rogers
Photos by HMAS Albatross
BUSHFIREBULLETINVOL27#01