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It is the guides responsibility to be on top of:
Pre- activity: Have reviewed the weather forecast prior to meeting clients
During Activity: Constantly monitor the rain forecast through out the day guiding
Monitoring local weather and conditions, is one of your critical roles as a MAG guide. When guiding, if you need to make a call for an AA to proceed in inclement weather, we always expect you to err on the side of caution. In making the call, the guide is encouraged to consider:
Weather forecast: both in the days prior and day of activity (particularly wind direction )
Topography
Commitment level: Can you go have a look or are you fully committed? (ie Canyon v track walk)
Fitness and capability of the group
Preparedness of group
Bushfire Trigger
Bushfire Trigger
Localised Bushfire activity
FDR> Very High
Forecast lightning activity in area
Fire Danger Ratings
Fire Danger Ratings
Low to High - business as usual
Very High – re-assess activities and alter to suit
Extreme – cancel all activities in NPWS areas and re-assess program
Catastrophic – evacuate to a safe area
Sourcing Bushfire Information
Sourcing Bushfire Information
Information and warnings about bush fires and other incidents attended by the NSW RFS
Decision Making Responsibility
Decision Making Responsibility
Pre- Activity
In consultation between client guide, lead guide, operations manager and CEO an assessment will be made as to GO/ NO GO.
Ultimate decision making falls to Lead Guide + CEO
During Activity
If the guide has communication, the lead guide and CEO can cancel activities at any point during day due to safety concerns (even if this falls against guide wishes).
Guide has authority to cancel activity if risk is deemed too great.
FLOW CHART??
Guide Response to Bushfire Emergency
Guide Response to Bushfire Emergency
Identify
Identify
The Guide monitors the available weather forecast and fire danger information as appropriate
The Guide monitors local weather for signs of bushfire including; smoke, haze or obvious fire flumes
Identify and monitor the NSW RFS Fire danger alerts
Identify appropriate evacuation areas; identify the nearest Place of Last Resort
Prepare
Prepare
The Guide prepares to evacuate participants to a known safe area
The Guide or other staff prepare fire fighting equipment as appropriate
The Guide advises Participants of the requirements during an evacuation
The Guide advices Participants to remain together as one group
In field, guide assesses topography and distances to evacuation and considers fire exposure in these environments (ie in canyon v on exposed ridge line)
Immediate actions
Immediate actions
Where an immediate bushfire risk exists, staff immediately evacuate participants to a safe area and establish contact with emergency services. CALL 000
Where smoke hazard exists, Guides and Participants are supplied with or encouraged to improvise suitable breathing protection; this may include heavy wet fabric, dust mask or breathing apparatus
Move to a cleared area. You can’t outrun a fire. Look for shelter in rocks, hollows, embankments, streams or roads. Do not hide in water tanks. Remember that radiant heat can be as deadly as flames.
Head to a lower area, not uphill, as a bushfire will rapidly ascend from valleys to ridges.
Drink plenty of water and cover your mouth with a damp cloth.
Keep low and cover your skin.
Move to burnt ground once the fire has passed.
As a last resort only you may need to run through the flames to a burnt out area. Choose a relatively clear area where flames are less than a metre high, take a deep breath, cover your face and run.
Contact someone to let them know your situation as soon as possible.
Evacuate or Recover
Evacuate or Recover
Evacuations are conducted in a urgent and efficient manner.
All available vehicles are used to conduct evacuations
Report
Report
The Guide communicates details of additional actions and/or evacuations to the Operations Manager at an appropriate time
Guide completes INCIDENT REPORT within 48hours of evacuation
Further Information
Further Information
Bushfire Emergency Guidelines (Adapted from NPWS website)
Bushfire Emergency Guidelines (Adapted from NPWS website)
1st October to the 31st March inclusive is the Bushfire Danger Season in the Blue Mountains of NSW. During this time restrictions are placed on open air BBQs and campfires. Specifically you may only light a fire:
In permanently constructed fireplaces with no combustible materials on the ground within 2 metres, or;
At a site with no combustible material on the ground within 3 metres and
Ensuring the fire is completely out before leaving the area
Keep Fires to a minimum at any time of the year to minimise our impact.
Bushfires
There are some simple precautions to take when conducting trips in national parks, forests and cleared farming areas.
Prior to your trip
Check the weather forecast. If hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast, plan your walk carefully. You may need to change or adapt your itinerary.
Consider cancelling walks if either there is a day of total fire ban forecast, OR if the forecast maximum temperature is 35 degrees Celcius or more).
Review the walk, taking into consideration any places where refuge could be taken should the party get into difficulty.
Bushfire behaviour
Bushfires start small. The spread and heat of fires is determined by wind, slope, and available fuel such as leaves and branches.
Fire will generally travel faster up a slope, with the wind and in dry and thick vegetation.
Radiant heat
In bushfires, the radiant heat affects you well before the actual flames reach you. Death is caused by the body's cooling system failing, leading to heart failure. Appropriate clothing can shield some of the radiant heat away from your skin.
Wear clothes that cover and protect all exposed skin.
Natural fibre (i.e. cotton or wool) long pants, long-sleeved shirts and jumpers are more effective than synthetics and are preferred for summer use. However, synthetics are better than bare skin!
If caught in a bushfire
Walk quickly, on the level or downhill. (Running is exhausting and counter-effective).
Look for areas that are flat and contain very little vegetation. Seek shelter from the fire - a running stream, pool or wet gully; eroded gully free of vegetation; hut or building; roadside drain or concrete pipe; under a low bridge; axle-deep wheel ruts; roadside cuttings; rocky outcrops; larger wombat holes; larger tree root mounds; hollow logs; gravel pits; clearings; or an area that has recently been burnt.
Clear any leaves or vegetation that can burn near your shelter. Stay in your chosen shelter until the fire front has passed (even if the shelter itself catches fire - stay as long as you can!).
Cover any exposed skin with clothing, earth, or anything which will take time to burn through, e.g. thick bark. Keep low and breathe air close to the ground where it is cooler and contains less smoke.
Drink water regularly to avoid dehydration.
If there is no immediate shelter around and the fire is advancing, you have very little chance of survival. Try to move away from the hottest part of the fire.
Low flames
As a last resort, you may be able to run through low flames (i.e. flames which are not higher than you are) onto burnt ground.
Choose a place where the flames are lower and where there is less burning material on the ground.
Wait for a lull and, when you can see over and through the flames, take a deep breath and run through, covering your face as much as possible, preferably with a damp handkerchief.
Stay in the burnt area. Flames greater than your height are too hazardous to run through.
When Driving
If you come across a fire with smoke across the road slow down at once. Drive slowly with headlights on. Slow to a crawl in very thick smoke. Watch out for fire trucks and trees which may have fallen across the road.
If caught in a vehicle during a bushfire: stay in the vehicle.
Park in an area that is bare or has the least vegetation alongside. If there is a cutting, nuzzle in against the bank.
Close all windows and leave lights on.
Lie down on the floor and cover yourself with clothing, rugs, etc. Only get out of the vehicle when the fire front has passed.
It is most unlikely that the petrol tank will ignite, and then not until well after the vehicle itself has caught fire.
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