I always wondered why cant explosives be used to put out fires. If its big enough, the ground will be heaved upward and the ground covered with nonburnable material.
Though you would have to figure out where to put the explosives before the fire actually happens, or a good distance away from the fire front... and then the fire could even change direction.
Question: why don't you guys fall back a couple hundred meters and burn off from a control line instead of a direct attack in the scrub right by the fire? I don't see any timber or rangeland values that would be compromised. Just a thought that may prevent you from getting outflanked when the wind shifts and would be a damn sight more comfortable.
If we did that we would increse the chances of being out flanked.
doing it this way means we are always working from a dead edge as the fire has burnt out as we move foward. if the wind canges on us all we have to do is reverse up a few meters or at the very worst we only have flame depth of a few meters as it runs over.
@Bullseye569 what footage i grow up in a grass land nsw and t how u are doing it is how we did. i don,t know how fast it is going but we had grass fires that would go up to90km.if u have any more footage like to see it
You make a good point, but It is ALWAYS safer to be right by the edge (direct attack). As we say in the states "one foot in the black". If the flame lengths were too high for direct atack, then they could fall back (indirect) and burn off. Burning off is a great tool, and maybe would have been a good choice if they didn't have the dozer.
When fighting a wildfire the best way is to use loaders like in the footage and trucks behind. You don't put the fire out, you cool it down and let it burn up to the fire break where it burns itself out, that way you not only conserve water (can take a few hours turn around to fill up with remote area fire fighting) but also ensure there is no unburnt area between the burnt edge and the fire break. The trucks behind will light up any unburnt pockets to make sure it is safe to move up the line.
Thanks for this great posting (as always) keep up the great work. Is the dozer cutting the trail you are on and what is the flow rate on the monitor you use so expertly? Awsome videography now that you don't have to hold your camera. Thanks for your efforts again mate.
hey man good to here from you, I tried to get the helmet cam to work, but it got cooked when we were on Gret Eastern Hwy trying to save the guys... guess it just shows how hot it got for us, not good when it is on your head! I might post some of that footage later.
not supprising the camera melted from what u and the guys have said. Have u got any of the footage from hellena valley fire we were at?
the missus dosn't believe me that i got on the roof without a ladder,being a fat basterd and all.Anyhow take it easy mate come up for a beer oneday i'll buy
is DEC fire fighting hard to get into????
carviller 1 year ago
How much water do you guys carry on your engines? Seems like you've got quite a bit!
monkeyrum15 1 year ago
Badass!!!
landgrader6 1 year ago
Was this the fire that killed 3 men on Great Eastern Highway?
ARGQ4004 2 years ago 2
I always wondered why cant explosives be used to put out fires. If its big enough, the ground will be heaved upward and the ground covered with nonburnable material.
RagingKnight 2 years ago
Theoretically you are right...
Though you would have to figure out where to put the explosives before the fire actually happens, or a good distance away from the fire front... and then the fire could even change direction.
Good idea but impractical and dangerous.
faggyclause 2 years ago
great footage
h2ksniper 2 years ago
AWESOME-- ma boy-- AWESOME wildland firefighter iain younger UK
truck501 3 years ago
nice shooting tex
Mo0nBugGy1 3 years ago
Awesome footage! Where is this?
teton152 3 years ago
Its between Southern Cross and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
About 500km east of Perth
simonthefireman 3 years ago
By the way, is that plain water or Class A you're using?
lmsasquatch 3 years ago
It's class A .2%
simonthefireman 3 years ago
Thanks.
lmsasquatch 3 years ago
Really cool. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
lmsasquatch 3 years ago
Question: why don't you guys fall back a couple hundred meters and burn off from a control line instead of a direct attack in the scrub right by the fire? I don't see any timber or rangeland values that would be compromised. Just a thought that may prevent you from getting outflanked when the wind shifts and would be a damn sight more comfortable.
Bullseye569 3 years ago
If we did that we would increse the chances of being out flanked.
doing it this way means we are always working from a dead edge as the fire has burnt out as we move foward. if the wind canges on us all we have to do is reverse up a few meters or at the very worst we only have flame depth of a few meters as it runs over.
simonthefireman 3 years ago
@Bullseye569 what footage i grow up in a grass land nsw and t how u are doing it is how we did. i don,t know how fast it is going but we had grass fires that would go up to90km.if u have any more footage like to see it
MrSparrow288 1 year ago
@Bullseye569 -
You make a good point, but It is ALWAYS safer to be right by the edge (direct attack). As we say in the states "one foot in the black". If the flame lengths were too high for direct atack, then they could fall back (indirect) and burn off. Burning off is a great tool, and maybe would have been a good choice if they didn't have the dozer.
ihategroundsquirells 7 months ago
Rated 5/5, favorited, and subscribed. This is awesome!
Rock on Simon!
lmsasquatch 3 years ago
Hey Simon, great footage. What model helmet cam are you usung on this one?
Scorcher62 3 years ago
Raw video is the best because it gives the viewer a birds eye view of what we see. Good job.
firefighter6539 3 years ago
that guy shouldnt be a nossleman no offense but you missed a lot of fire
rockinfireman95 3 years ago
When fighting a wildfire the best way is to use loaders like in the footage and trucks behind. You don't put the fire out, you cool it down and let it burn up to the fire break where it burns itself out, that way you not only conserve water (can take a few hours turn around to fill up with remote area fire fighting) but also ensure there is no unburnt area between the burnt edge and the fire break. The trucks behind will light up any unburnt pockets to make sure it is safe to move up the line.
simonthefireman 3 years ago
nice one
darcyanderl12 3 years ago
Thanks for this great posting (as always) keep up the great work. Is the dozer cutting the trail you are on and what is the flow rate on the monitor you use so expertly? Awsome videography now that you don't have to hold your camera. Thanks for your efforts again mate.
akron1000gpm 3 years ago
As useual great work mate hope you'll be back at work with us next season or send ya helmet cam in so we can send u more footage
pauld9870 3 years ago
hey man good to here from you, I tried to get the helmet cam to work, but it got cooked when we were on Gret Eastern Hwy trying to save the guys... guess it just shows how hot it got for us, not good when it is on your head! I might post some of that footage later.
simonthefireman 3 years ago
not supprising the camera melted from what u and the guys have said. Have u got any of the footage from hellena valley fire we were at?
the missus dosn't believe me that i got on the roof without a ladder,being a fat basterd and all.Anyhow take it easy mate come up for a beer oneday i'll buy
pauld9870 3 years ago
I've been wanting to come up soon, I'll get the unedited version of helena valley for you and bring it up.
simonthefireman 3 years ago