RSCH.016.001.1136 - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

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RSCH.016.001.1177 Bushfires 37 consider making small grants available to householders in bushfire prone areas to allow them to buy water pumps to help drain tanks and swimming pools more rapidly during emergencies. 96 The bushfire damage up to this date was summed up as follows: Blue mountains 20 houses lost. “A state of emergency is in effect in the Blue Mountains after 20 houses were lost. Extensive backburning on a 20km front south of Blaxland and Glenbrook was undertaken yesterday hoping it would turn back the bushfires firefighters expect to come today. Fire crews burned a 50m wide break to save homes lining the ridge next to the Blue Mountains National Park if wind directions change. Bushfires yesterday continued to rage out of control in Glenbrook Gorge.” Hawkesbury 14 houses lost. “Fires continued to rage out of control near Spencer yesterday in 700ha of mostly dense bush in the Dharug National Park east of Wisemans Ferry. Heavy smoke hampered controlled burning attempts. Brigades fighting the Spencer fire were concerned it would jump the narrow part of the Hawkesbury River. Fires west of the central coast have breached containment lines twice since Christmas Day. Kurrajong Heights, Lower Portland, Ebenezer and Kurrajong remained under threat. Air water bombers were fighting a 5,000ha blaze and fires were also blazing at Grahames Creek-Wheeny Gap and Limits Hill. A state of emergency is in place.” Western sydney 4 houses lost. “A state of emergency exists although fires had been contained after gutting almost 15,000ha.” Shoalhaven 40 houses lost. “Fires have destroyed more than 1,500ha and more than 40 houses, structures and machinery. Firefighters were yesterday trying to contain fires near Wandandian and Yalwal. Flare-up of fires near Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin. State of emergency exists.” Southern highlands “Large fire front was threatening houses and properties at Mittagong and Buxton. Locals were staying put to defend their homes. It is a front which had previously terrorised 96 “A sombre walk through worst of the devastation” in The Sun Herald, 30 December 2001.
RSCH.016.001.1178 38 NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service Warragamba. There were also concerns yesterday about blazes near Picton and Camden.” Sutherland 27 houses lost. “The 8,600ha Waterfall fire was still burning. The road to Bundeena was opened until midday yesterday and residents were allowed to come and go. Houses were still under threat. A small fire was troubling Helensburgh near the railway line.” Campbelltown 39 houses lost. “The 1,300ha Nattai fire was burning in small pockets but had been brought under control. A fire at Warragamba was also under control but only for the time being. A fire at Mt Beloon was threatening Balmoral, Hilltop, Colo Vale and properties along the Wollondilly River. It was heading towards the Hume Highway in a 25km front. State of emergency declared.” Cessnock “The 150ha Big Yango fire was still burning and threatening the Wollemi National Park. State of emergency declared.” North coast “Fires were burning 2,600ha near Caves Hill. Fire near Yamba under control as of late yesterday.” 97 Sunday 30 December 2001 Sydney experienced one of its worst days of air pollution after overnight westerly winds swept bushfire smoke from the Blue Mountains. The Environment Protection Authority air pollution index recorded the maximum reading of 237 throughout Sydney and the Illawarra region. On a normal December day, the levels are around 20 to 30, and anything above a reading of 50 is considered high. 98 On Sunday the Canadian Erickson Air-Crane Helitanker was flown from Victoria to assist in the fire fighting efforts. The helitanker is a heavy duty waterbomber, and can suck up 9000 litres of water in 45 seconds. The helitanker joined a fleet of 55 aircraft that had been waterbombing and fire spotting to date. Commissioner Koperberg was reported to have said: “The helicopter [Erikson helitanker] is not the panacea to all our problems. It will be an adjunct to our armoury.” 99 However, the helitanker (nicknamed Elvis) was soon to become a popular image of the bushfire fighting effort in the media. 97 98 99 “The impact region by region.” in The Sun Herald, 30 December 2001. “Doom and gloom: pollution levels hit all-time high.” In Sydney Morning Herald, 31 December 2001. “Big-bellied angel that can drop a mini-monsoon.” In The Sun Herald, 30 December 2001.
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RSCH.016.001.1136 - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

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