That's a bush fire hazard! Tarlo celebrates his 50th birthday at the Dunoon Rural Fire Brigade Shed.

Fire Permit News
Due to a favourable wet season the end of the Bush Fire Danger Period was declared on Friday 11th January. As a result, fire permits will no longer be required for the lighting of fires. It should be noted however that it is common courtesy to notify your neighbours of your intention to light a fire that is likely to produce smoke that may affect them in any way. Fire Permits will be required again from the 1st September 2008 unless weather conditions dictate otherwise.
Should anyone feel that they require assistance from the RFS to conduct a burn, we are only too happy to help. Fire Permit Officers for your area are listed on page 23. If you do wish the RFS to assist you, advanced notice will be required so you will need to plan ahead. Due to changes in the NSW Rural Fire Service Regulations a ‘Request for RFS Assistance’ form has to be completed by the property owner and then authorised by the Fire Control Officer in Lismore prior to the burn being carried out.
Bundjalung Fire
October was a very busy period for emergency services in the area. Prior to the tornado in Dunoon and Lismore’s hail storm, there was a major incident at Bundjalung National Park.
On 1st October 2007 a small fire was reported just south of the Evans Head township. Local RFS fire crews responded but because of its location, access was not possible. Due to the warm and dry conditions the fire quickly escalated overnight. More fire crews from across the area were called in the next day. However, access was restricted because the fire was advancing through the RAAF bombing range, the possibility of unexploded ordinance posed a significant risk. Unfavourable winds from the NW further fanned the fire and prevented the establishment of adequate fire breaks. The RFS declared it a major incident, which enabled more resources to be brought in to contain the fire.
The northern section of the fire was extinguished at the edge of the Evans Head township, however there was still a considerable threat to Black Rock camping area and the rural land sharing communities (MO’s) of Kormdinii Ridge and Serendipity to the south.
The new RFS award winning software Helifire and Mapdesk were used extensively to provide fire fighters comprehensive up-to-date information of the fire ground to assist in the protection of these assets. As well as the earthmoving contractors employed to establish access tracks to enable fire fighters to put in back-burns. Four fixed wing planes and three helicopter water-bombers were used comprehensively throughout the campaign. Because of its close proximity to the fire ground, the Evans Head airstrip proved to be invaluable as it provided quick turn-arounds for the water bombers.
The fire was declared ‘fully extinguished’ on the 12th October after burning out 6232Ha of land. The perimeter of the area burnt was 144kms. Hundreds of emergency personnel of the RFS and SES from the Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Byron Bay, Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour shires were involved in the campaign.
Local NSW Police, NSWFB and Ambulance Services were also involved. Last but not least, the Salvation Army Catering Unit - Thank God For the Salvos - .they provided excellent fresh meals throughout the campaign and exhausted crews coming in after their shift looked forward to seeing their smiling faces.
General News
Joel Oates had his bags packed and was looking forward to assisting South Australia fire crews fighting the large fires on Kangaroo Island in November last year. Joel was eager to gain fire-fighting experience in a different environment to that which we have in the Northern Rivers. A very disappointed Joel was informed only a few hours before departure that he would not be required because a change in the weather had brought rain and quelled the fire enough for existing fire crews on the ground to contain and extinguish.
Care on the Roads
Thank you to all the motorists that have regularly used our roads during the persistent wet weather. Wet roads usually bring on a spate of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) due to drivers not adjusting their driving habits to the road conditions. Dunoon brigade only attended one MVA that occurred before the ‘real wet’ set in.
At about 6pm on Monday 29th October we were called to a head-on collision of two vehicles on a bend in the road on Missingham Road – near the Dorroughby Road intersection. It appeared that undue care and speed was the cause of the accident. Only two people were involved. Both were taken by ambulance to Lismore Base hospital; one with a minor chest injury and the other who was not wearing a seatbelt suffered sever injuries to the head, chest and legs. This highlights the fact that care must be taken when driving on our country roads. Just because you are driving on a major connecting road does not mean that the whole road is yours to use. Consider the fact that apart from other oncoming cars you could encounter farm machinery, livestock, wildlife and people walking for exercise.
All local brigade members are volunteers from your community and it is not a pleasant task for them to attend an accident scene. It is even more disturbing if the persons involved are someone they know.

Ross McDougall
Captain - Dunoon Brigade