Where is this smoke coming from?

I thought there were going to be controlled burns in Namadgi all week starting the 18th.

molongloid said :

I can’t find a timetable of hazard reduction burns on the ACT RFS or ESA websites. It’d be nice to know in advance.

I googled “hazard reduction burns ACT” and got this as result #1:

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/includes/whats_new/hazard_reduction_burns

dvaey said :

I checked the NSW RFS website also, thinking that the fire was ‘over the border’ and there was absoultely nothing at the time. Lots of details about fires (and even a car accident) near Sydney, but nothing even close to the ACT.

Did you check the page titled “Hazard Reduction Burns” as it lists the back burns by Council & one that is still up is in the Tumut Council, Brindabella location.

More signage would be handy too. I was on O’Connor ridge when the burning started the other day. I made a hasty escape when I noticed smoke. There were signs on the gate on the way out advising of the danger of falling branches, but nothing about the burn. There were no signs on the gate I entered through or half a dozen others I jogged past the next day.

I can’t find a timetable of hazard reduction burns on the ACT RFS or ESA websites. It’d be nice to know in advance.

miz said :

I was quite worried yesterday – there was a LOT of smoke in Tuggeranong valley, starting as a plume mid-afternoon. I checked out the ESA website at that time but was not particularly reassured by the statement that the fires were from over [that randomly placed, fictitious line called] ‘the border’.

I checked the NSW RFS website also, thinking that the fire was ‘over the border’ and there was absoultely nothing at the time. Lots of details about fires (and even a car accident) near Sydney, but nothing even close to the ACT.

miz said :

Fortunately the smoke has cleared significantly today. I am supportive of burnoffs, but perhaps the info about them could be promulgated sooner?

I think this could be said about all emergency services. As a general rule, Ive found emergency services dont like giving out the full story, even in the case of an emergency. One example was when police closed off some roads while chasing some offenders on foot who were carrying weapons. When approaching the area I was told the road was closed due to an accident, so I diverted and took a back way into the suburb… if theyd been honest and said ‘someones running aruond with a gun’, I would have taken their advice and left the area. Even when listening to local radio there was no announcement for several hours, until around 10pm (4hrs after it started) there was a ‘breaking news’ on the radio that the police had closed some roads off, but it was okay cos the roads were open now. A saying comes into my mind about horses and gates.

Our emergency services seem to be best placed as emergency journalists, since whenever any emergencies happen, its like they hold back the story until they can organise a full press release with cameras, rather than just calling the ABC or local FM station and giving them a heads up.

hax said :

Hmm I’d rather have to cough once or twice than have the town wiped out again, but hey I can see where your coming from, dudes gotta breath…

It’s a lose-lose situation.
I’m particularly sensitive to the smoke and it always gives me a debilitating migraine (I never get migraines otherwise), time off work etc.. and I’m a smoker, so it must be extremely toxic to effect me like this 🙁

I was quite worried yesterday – there was a LOT of smoke in Tuggeranong valley, starting as a plume mid-afternoon. I checked out the ESA website at that time but was not particularly reassured by the statement that the fires were from over [that randomly placed, fictitious line called] ‘the border’. That’s where the big fires came from in 2003.

Given the amount of smoke and the nearness and strength of the smell (a bit like when there were fires as close as Michelago recently) it certainly appeared that the HR burn had got out of control by late yesterday (and there were no updates after 3:20pm on the ESA website).

Fortunately the smoke has cleared significantly today. I am supportive of burnoffs, but perhaps the info about them could be promulgated sooner?

hax said :

ESA says not to be alarmed.

On an unrelated note, my eyes are burning, my bones are aching, my head is throbbing, and I’m coughing up stuff.

Luckyily I have nothing to worry about – it’s just a hazard reduction burn from across the border, sigh of relief.

Hmm I’d rather have to cough once or twice than have the town wiped out again, but hey I can see where your coming from, dudes gotta breath…

ESA says not to be alarmed.

On an unrelated note, my eyes are burning, my bones are aching, my head is throbbing, and I’m coughing up stuff.

Luckyily I have nothing to worry about – it’s just a hazard reduction burn from across the border, sigh of relief.

Guy was on ABC radio this morning mentioning there where about 50 fire control burns scheduled for today across ACT and NSW.

Details are here http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/