ID :
16768
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 20:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/16768
The shortlink copeid
Arsonists put NT landowners at risk
Northern Territory firefighters fear three deliberately lit fires would reach homes and could threaten lives before they managed to bring it under control.
Bushfires Northern Territory staff and volunteers started fighting the mergingblazes about 5am (CST) at Fly Creek, south of Darwin.
The service's regional fire control officer John Whatley said strong winds fanned the three flame fronts to create an intense fire that threatened rural residentialblocks.
"We put in a massive effort to contain this fire because we didn't want to losehouses," Mr Whatley said.
"At one point, we had two 802 Airtractors, two helicopters, 17 grassfire units and four or five other appliances to control the fire." The fire burnt more than 2,000 hectares and was eventually stopped at an area ofcrown land which had undergone controlled burning earlier in the year.
"We managed to get the fire under control by around noon (Sunday)," Mr Whatley said.
Bushfires Northern Territory director Steve Sutton said the fires were deliberatelylit.
"The malicious acts of arsonists put the lives of a great number of people at risk,"Mr Sutton said.
"Landholders need to be reminded that they are responsible for taking measures toreduce the risk of bushfire and ensuring they have fire breaks.
"Without the outstanding response of fire crews there was a real chance it could have reached rural properties." While the blaze is now contained, strong winds are expected to continue and firecrews will be mopping up for the rest of the weekend.
Bushfires Northern Territory staff and volunteers started fighting the mergingblazes about 5am (CST) at Fly Creek, south of Darwin.
The service's regional fire control officer John Whatley said strong winds fanned the three flame fronts to create an intense fire that threatened rural residentialblocks.
"We put in a massive effort to contain this fire because we didn't want to losehouses," Mr Whatley said.
"At one point, we had two 802 Airtractors, two helicopters, 17 grassfire units and four or five other appliances to control the fire." The fire burnt more than 2,000 hectares and was eventually stopped at an area ofcrown land which had undergone controlled burning earlier in the year.
"We managed to get the fire under control by around noon (Sunday)," Mr Whatley said.
Bushfires Northern Territory director Steve Sutton said the fires were deliberatelylit.
"The malicious acts of arsonists put the lives of a great number of people at risk,"Mr Sutton said.
"Landholders need to be reminded that they are responsible for taking measures toreduce the risk of bushfire and ensuring they have fire breaks.
"Without the outstanding response of fire crews there was a real chance it could have reached rural properties." While the blaze is now contained, strong winds are expected to continue and firecrews will be mopping up for the rest of the weekend.
