test 1 page under pw protect

Energy Safety WA has released its report on January’s  Cairnhill fire and it identifies what it sees as the source of the fire but the cause could not be determined.

The examination found the Cable Termination Head on top of the concrete power pole behind the property “failed due to the failure of the cable insulation. The cause of the cable insulation failure could not be determined by the examination. ”

The report also points out that Western Power was not aware there was a fire when it tried to turn the power back on 24 minutes after the power was automatically shut down. WP then sent an “operative” to the site and he was informed by DFES of the fire.

The report, which is available here makes no reference to earlier electrical related fires in the area and no recommendations were made.

The fire occurred on January 5 and resulted in the destruction of the Cairnhill B&B.  The quick response of the Dunsborough, Yallingup and Yallingup Rural brigades stopped the fire from reaching neighbouring houses.

There is a higher than normal bush fire risk this summer according to a report released by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Tuesday. A lack of rainfall, a longterm deficit in the soil moisture and high fuel loads have led to an above normal fire potential this summer in the South West, the official forecast of the 2015-16 bushfire season states.

 

There is a greater than 80% chance of warmer temperatures than average September-November due to a warmer Indian Ocean. However this is tempered by the expectation of a greater than 65% chance of more rain than average during the same time period.

The report states “The 2015-16 southern fire season comes against a backdrop of long-term drying, record warmth in the Indian Ocean and
the continued development of a major El Nino event in the Pacific. Across southern Australia a pattern of drier southern wet seasons (April to October) has continued for more than 10 years leaving substantial rainfall deficits. The below average rainfall has been accompanied by above average temperatures, with the past decade being the warmest on record in many areas. The pattern of long-term below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures means that conditions such as soil moisture and fuels are prone to rapid drying with the approach of summer.”

Regarding the long term trends, the government funded research centre said they “will challenge the limited resources of the fire and land management agencies and have created the situation where each fire season is likely to be more demanding than the last, both in economic and human costs.”

The report is available here:  2015-16 Bush Fire Forecast.

The climate outlook will be updated by the Bureau of Meteorology around the end of each month.

Andy and Carlo spent Thursday night fighting a fire southeast of Donnybrook. The pair took the Light Tanker at eight pm and returned by nine Friday morning,  just in time for Andy to return to work at the Post Office.

They were operating southeast of Donnybrook, off Thomson Brook Road. They spent the night blacking out and extinguishing spot fires, working in very hilly terrain, in bush and pine plantations.

By mid Friday morning the fire was contained but not under control.

Lightning started a fire on Caves Road near Spencer early Thursday morning with the alert going out at 5:15.

A rapid crew response got the 1.4 with Andy, Douglas, Carlo and Mitch; followed by the 4.4 with Alan, Matty, Noel, Pete and Tony; and the Light Tanker with Duncan and Emma on the scene quickly.  There they met FCO’s Hunty and Fish . The fire was soon extinguished. Blacking out took longer with fire smouldering in some of the older Marris along the side of the road.

The burnt area was adjacent to a blue gum plantation and it was fortunate the wind was from the south and the crews got to the fire so quickly.  It was the first workout for the reinvigorated 4.4.

Later in the day a fire at Clairault Winery got the volunteers out again but the winery staff had extinguished the fire by the time the crews got to the fire shed.

The latest Yallingup Rural crew came home late Sunday night after a long day at the Northcliffe fire. Currently no crews are on call and it is anticipated the 4.4 will return soon for much needed maintenance.

The crew of Duncan, Mark S, Mark P, Mitch and Tony, along with Ian for the 12.2, set off from home around 4am and returned to Dunsborough around 10pm.

After the morning briefing, they spent the day in exactly the same area as the Wednesday night crew, attacking flare ups and blacking down. Two helicopters were called in to suppress a spotover in front of the truck. They also spent time draughting and supplying water to the Hithergreen and Sussex trucks which were unable to draft. Credit to the driver, Stando, for his skills in tricky terrain and his swimming skills.

Over the last week there have been six 4.4 crews sent to Northcliffe along with the 12.2 crews. In total it is estimated there have been 23 members of the brigade at the fire with four doing three shifts, including Steveo spending over a week looking after the 12.2.

Along with the Northcliffe action there was a local fire last week with lightning starting a fire in Yungarra Drive.  Adam turned up quickly with the Light Tanker, along with Tony and the Dunsborough Light Tanker. By time they arrived, however,  the neighbors had helped to put it out.

Along with use by our crew, the 4.4 has been used by Dunsborough  and crews from Victoria,  NSW. As of Sunday it has a cracked windscreen, a wonky electric winder, missing one hand winder, a malfunctioning foam system and one door handle is coming off.

Apart from  the crews getting a break, it is hoped this will also be a good break for our hard working coordinator, Barb, and for all the spouses who have had to drive their partners to Busselton at very unsocial hours.

Crews are continuing to be sent to Northcliffe although the improved weather Thursday allowed the evening shifts to be dropped for at least the next few days.

Jason returned Friday morning after spending the night driving the 4.4 with a crew from Victoria. FCO David also returned Friday after working three days in IC.

Chris and auxiliary Shahan headed off to Northcliffe on their way to a wedding in Denmark, with Chris driving the 4.4 and Shahn the 12.2. Chris was joined by Andy (again, again, again), Emma and Adam.

Joe Mac will head down Saturday to work on the 12.2 and Annie resumes her role as a DFES Community Liaison Officer for the next few days working out of Pemberton or Northcliffe or Manjimup..

The next crew heads down 4AM Sunday with Mark squared (S&P), Mitch, Duncan and Tony S. All except Mark S are on their second or third shifts.

On the home front Barb made the front page of the local paper. See here. Not surprisingly she didn’t mention her own massive effort-a never ending shift: coordinating crews and part-time driver.  And she’s still waiting for Steveo to return!