Lightning causes numerous fires
Published Date: 09 Jan 2013
Summary
Cootamundra Herald
THEY say lightning doesn't strike twice, however over the weekend dozens of fires were reported across the wider area during an electrical storm including three in the local district affecting Wallendbeen, Bethungra and Dirnaseer.
Inspector Andrew Caldwell of the South West Slopes Rural Fire Service said as well as loads of water, a new gel substance was used in the fire fight which sticks to the vegetation and essentially smothers the fire. This substance has been used by the RFS for about 12 months and provides fast, effective results. Eighty three hectares of scrubland was burnt out in a fire at Wallendbeen on Sunday. The fire started in the vicinity of Black Spring Lane and given the rough country two planes had to be used to combat the blaze, one from Cootamundra and one from Cowra.
Inspector Caldwell said the fire was caused by a lightning strike and mainly burnt through a gully meaning valuable farming land in the area was saved.
He said the good work of crews on the ground meant the fire did not jump Black Spring Road, which would have put farming land under threat.
"If it had jumped the lane or gone further north the situation could have been much worse," Inspector Caldwell said.
As well as the two aircraft, seven tankers were on scene at the fire from Wallendbeen and Cootamundra to battle the blaze, which was brought under control by about 3pm Sunday.
A crew of local volunteers from the Cootamundra Aviation Support Group were on hand at the airport to reload the firefighting planes with water.
The RFS also reported blazes at Bethungra and Dirnaseer on Saturday evening.
Once again, both of these fires were a result of lightning strikes.
Inspector James Smith of the Riverina Rural Fire Service said both were brought under control quickly.
The Bethungra blaze started in Mohomet's Lane, near the Ulandra nature reserve.
Inspector Smith said a quick response from the Bethungra and Illabo RFS brigades meant the fire was brought under control quickly. The fire was contained to five hectares as a result of the good work of volunteers.
The Dirnaseer fire occurred on Black Gate Road with less than one hectare burnt as a result of the lightning strike fire.
Mr Smith said across the Riverina Rural Fire Service there were dozens of fires as a result of Saturday evening's electrical story with some 50 trucks responding.
Both the South West Slopes and Riverina branches are on high alert given the dangerous weather conditions being experienced across the region at present.
While there is some reprieve in terms of temperature today, temps are expected to skyrocket again tomorrow and for the rest of the week.
