Are you bush fire ready?
This is my hood. The beautiful, majestic World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park.
There are so many wonderful things about this place from being surrounded by trees making the air always fresh & clean, to the vibe you get just by being around this much nature.
I love the sound of all the birds, from the tiny little chirps that's just ridiculous cute to the kookaburras loud laughter that always manages to tug a tired smile from me even though I'm thinking shut up its too damn early.
I love where I live but I'm scared of where I live.
No. It's not gangster hood or anything else sinister, although the gossip is, there's an ice epidemic in Katoomba. Everywhere else seems to be it's usual chill friendly vibe. We don't even see our cops much and when we do they're great to chat with. They like to muck around with you - they reckon they got jokes.
Like the officer who told me there's no bathrooms in The Gearin Hotel on Winterfest Night when I was busting. Must have looked like I was about to cry cos he laughed in my face and pointed behind him to the ladies. Gave him the filthiest look.
Cheers mate. I have logged your mug into my database. I won't be forgetting you any time soon.
Yeh. Cops you don't see much. We're that chill over here. The majority of people somehow manages to do the right thing by each other so our cops have time to mess around and joke. .. Yep. Looking right at you Officer 😜
The RFS (Rural Fire Service) though. They are everywhere in the community.
Here's the one I spotted at the Lawson Markets a few weeks ago.
While there is no cop shop at every suburb in the mountains, there sure as hell is an RFS. Every suburb from the foot of the mountains all the way up to the top has an RFS (well almost..)
This is how serious we are about bush fires and safety of the community.
The RFS (Rural Fire Service)
On 1 September 1997, the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) was established by an Act of Parliament (the Rural Fires Act 1997) as the successor to the Bush Fires Act, redefining the world's largest fire service and building on a century of experience in protecting some of the most fire-prone areas on earth.
Today the NSW RFS comprises over 2,100 rural fire brigades with a total volunteer membership of approximately 72,000. In addition, over 900 staff members are employed to manage the day to day operations of the Service at District Fire Control Centres, Regional Offices, Customer Service Centres, Operational and Mitigation Support Service bases and Headquarters at Lidcombe.
Source: RFS NSW - https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/structure
This season has been dry. We didn't get a lot of rainfall and right now I can feel how crisp the ground is, coupled with the dry and very windy conditions.... I won't lie. It is a concern.
Especially since I don't drive and if something happens and Hubby's not home I need to be able to grab Fluffy and go. Things are just things but still... there's a few things I need to make sure I pack in my emergency bag like...
My grandmother's engagement ring. (The only thing I have from my mum's mum who crossed over when I was 6 years old.), Photos, Paperwork, Jewelry, Laptop and possibly the PS4 (don't judge me)
So what else can you do to get bush fire season ready?
Be aware of Total Fire Ban days.
DON'T BE A TOSSER!!!!
.. And most of all.. Always be prepared.
This will be my third spring/summer in the mountains praying for a safe bush fire season, so far so good but still... I would appreciate everyone's prayers as Australia goes into, what's looking like a killer Summer.
💗 Arly
Sources:
1- http://pixabay.com
2- https://web.facebook.com/RFSBlueMountainsDistrict/
3- https://web.facebook.com/nswpoliceforce/
4- https://www.youtube.com/user/NSWRFS
5- https://twitter.com/NSWRFS
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Thank you :)
Its just right that the fine for tossing cigarettes is so high, cause it can cause loss of lots of things not just properties. :)
Hi, @bearone!
My wife worked for a wild fire service in Oregon for a year or so (building their business systems and functioned as an operated). Dry seasons are extremely scary, and it doesn't take much for fire to start and destroy all that you own and have invested your self in.
Stay safe, and those are great tips towards that goal.
Hey @ironmanmatt!
It is really scary and you're right it doesnt take much to destroy everything.
I expressed this concern to my neighbor when we first came up and he told me to have a bag packed, insure and stay calm.
One year they had the fire at the back fence and RFS from all over Aus was at the street protecting homes.
I hope to volunteer once we get settled into our new home. :)
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by!
We had a bush fire here just a few weeks ago, was absolutely crazy. We have a bag packed (2 actually, so many kids and all) has clothes, hard drive with photos and everyone's birth certificates. Everything else stays! We also just went over the fire plan with the older kids so they know what to do as well.
So it's started already for you guys too? Thankfully you're alright! Im surprised you only have 2 packed but thats a really good call - in that moment more important to have all the kids together than carrying stuff, even better they know what the drill is. Cant be too prepared.
Everyone also says make sure you're insured and with nrma.
My kids said that about the bags, and depending on the situation I would def grab more but as an actual get out you've got 30seconds to go scenario, 2 was plenty lol.
Not sure about insurance, we don't have any at the minute as we are renting, we really need to get contents insurance though, been meaning to do it for ages but it's so costly.
Nice work babe.
And that #thealliance logo is BITCHIN!!!
Cheers babe! @enginewitty did an amazing job with it!
Sure is a beautiful view and with the sounds of nature must be amazing
But the chance of fires is if course a concern and it's sensible to be prepared
I have all respect in the world for fire fighters they put their lives at risk to protect us
Fighting bush firs is such hard and dangerous work and full respect to them
It's a bit of a give and take up here. It was definitely one of the things we considered before deciding to settle down here but theres just no comparing it so for us its worth it.
We were conforted by the old locals who jusy shrug it off and say just make sure you're insured 😊
Hats off to all the firies definitely. I love ours especially. Not only do they train and work so hard to protect our lives and hoke they also do so much for our local community.
Our Santa up here doesnt have a sleigh, he rides on the fire truck and goes street to street 😊
They do a lot. Above and beyond. ❤
That's cool Santa rides the fire truck love it 😎
It gets bad quick up there. I have friends in Winmalee.
It's beautiful country until suddenly it isn't.
It sure does Matt. Luckily there hasnt been a major event since we moved up - I hate thinking that we're due though. I swear I spend most of summer praying.
Winmalee I heard is a sauna come summer time 😰 Been looking at houses there recently. Great area. Has the best schools apparently.
The place where you live in looks pretty cool. I think i will love living there. The people seems to be very disciplined, which lessened the work of the cops. We sometimes have grass fires in my province too, luckily, houses are not too close. Hoping that summer would pass by there without having bush fire incidents. 🙏🏻
I was born in Katoomba but now live in Sydney. I love going back but probably won't get up there again this year. All your concerns and warnings about fire in such are dry year are absolutely right.
All the best for the summer - and do take care of the place for me ;)
I was born in Katoomba but now live in Sydney. I love going back but probably won't get up there again this year. All your concerns and warnings about fire in such are dry year are absolutely right.
All the best for the summer - and do take care of the place for me ;)