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events|Armidale Fire| |
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Armidale
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In
October 2000 two of our volunteers, Brendan Haverfield and Eddy Tillotson,
travelled to the Armidale area to assist at a very large fire that was
burning out of control in rugged country. For
some obscure reason this kind of out of area excursion is known as a STARG.
As the fire was burning in remote mountain country, transport to the site
was by helicopter; a new experience for our lads. |
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A
very quick off the mark reader of this website has sent in a clarification,
as follows:
Not
obscure at all State Tactical Assistance Response Group (STARG). Regards Colin
Fitzgibbon Williamsdale BFB
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The
transport, and the very smoky conditions. |
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It
seems a good deal of the time was spent getting to and from the scene of the
action. As the main fire was pretty inaccessible, the job largely involved containment
and mopping up. |
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A
burnt out area. |
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| As
our blokes had taken time off work for this expedition, the amount of time getting
to the general area and the method of deployment did make them wonder whether
volunteers were being used to full efficiency on this occasion. This type of
operation is fairly new and the whole system is still on something of a learning
curve. As our guys are not renowned for their reticence, I am sure nobody died
wondering at the debrief. |
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Getting
to the job, once they got out of the helicopter. |
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| Anyway,
they are still the only members of our brigade who have been to a fire by helicopter.
Ask them about it at the next chinwag around a campfire, but be prepared to
listen for a while. |
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