Wild Fires rage across N. Australia, homes in danger
Pastor Dale Morgan
Wild Fires rage across N. Australia, homes in danger*
July 23, 2007 02:33pm
Article from: AAP
MORE than 40 volunteers have fought for three days to save homes,
livestock and crops from fires raging across the Top End.
But the Bushfire Volunteer Association (BVA) accused some landowners of
letting fuel loads build up, which put firefighters at risk.
"There were quite a few people who had done the right thing and
installed breaks,'' BVA president Di Tynan said today.
"But there were a minority who had let fuel build up, and with the gusty
winds we had that made things very dangerous for everyone.''
A firefighting force that included 40 volunteers, 19 grass fire units,
five tankers, three helicopters and two fixed wing aircraft fought hard
at the Batchelor, Acacia Hills and Tennant Creek regions, where 40
square kilometres were lost, along with pasture and mango crops.
Ms Tynan called on people to take action to minimise the risk of bushfires.
"People had grass growing under the eaves of their houses,'' she said.
"All landholders need to take measures to reduce the risk of a bushfire,
which means having a fire management plan, ensuring they have fire
breaks and removing fuel around buildings...
"If landholders all do the right thing it makes our job a lot easier and
reduces the impact of bushfire on their own lives.''
Bushfires NT Director Stephen Sutton today thanked staff and volunteers
for their efforts from Wednesday of last week.
"The fact is that the volunteers saved a lot of homes in the past
week,'' said Mr Sutton.
"Each year volunteers give up their time to save lives, property and the
environment.
"Some put in hundreds of hours during the fire season.