Mount Canobolas fire: Five months on

Summary

About 50 senior fire fighters across western NSW toured the site of the Mount Canobolas February fire on Thursday as part of a two-day NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) conference.

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The officers were taken on three mini-buses to inspect key parts of the mountain which are still recovering from the blaze.

RFS Canobolas zone manager Superintendent David Hoadley said the Region West Conference field trip covered most aspects of the blaze.

“We looked at a number of sites, where it ignited, where it progressed to and a containment line,” he said.

Superintendent Hoadley said the investigation into how the fire had started had been completed without a cause being identified.

He said the field trip enabled staff from areas across the Central West and Western NSW to see how the fire developed.

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“Our fire was a significant one,” he said.

He said walking tracks and areas of the mountain still closed due to damage to the facilities would not be re-assessed for opening before September.

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The field trip was on the second of the two days devoted to the conference.

He said on the first day of the conference in Orange officers from around the state received long-service awards.

Superintendent Hoadley said there were presentations on topics including leadership, state operations’ plans and a corporate plan.

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He said the conference covered officers from about 68 per cent of NSW.