Bushwalker Trapped by Fire

[Overlandman]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-08/b ... ection=tas

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-08/t ... ection=tas

A southern Tasmanian woman's terrifying experience with a firebombing helicopter has forced Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service to review its fuel reduction burn procedures.

Lee Evans was hiking near Mount Edith last Thursday when she noticed a helicopter firebombing the area.

The experienced bushwalker said she was not aware fuel reduction burns were planned.

She waved her white beanie to try to get the helicopter pilot's attention but she said the chopper continued with the burn.

She soon realised there was too much smoke to follow her planned route back to her car, the main spur behind her had been firebombed, and spots ahead of her were starting to burn.

With flames within hundreds of metres, Ms Evans had to take evasive action.

She tried to keep upwind and downhill of the burning areas.

"I've been in some hairy situations before, walking, with weather and terrain, but I've never been so frightened in my life," she said.

"One wrong decision in that situation, it really could have been nasty."

When she was about 500 metres from the road and her car, there was fire on either side of her.

"There were a number of points where there was smoke pluming up and even visible flames within 10 metres of me," she said.

"It's not an experience I care to repeat."

Ms Evans said she believed things could have ended differently for a less-experienced walker.

"I hate to think. I had a hard enough time of it," she said.

"Someone who had less of an understanding of how fires work, was less experienced with dealing with Tasmanian bush ... it would be easy for someone to panic in a situation like that."
Parks and Wildlife Service reviewing procedures

Mount Edith was not listed on the Parks and Wildlife Service website as a planned burn.

Ms Evans said she wanted answers from Parks about their processes for checking areas were clear.

"Did they actually see me? Because I tried on at least three occasions to get their attention," she asked.

"If they didn't, what sort of lookout do they keep when they're doing this sort of work? What sort of procedures do they have in place to make sure these burn offs are done safely?"

"People [need to] know that there is a risk if they go in, even in an area as isolated as the Tarkine. Signs? Something."

The Parks and Wildlife Service released a statement saying they were "extremely concerned".

The service is investigating the safety processes followed last week and would also now review its fuel reduction burn procedures.

The statement said public and staff safety was the highest priority of all fuel reduction burns undertaken by the service.

Parks said although the public was notified before burns began, walkers were encouraged to check at Parks and Wildlife offices as well.

Chris Bell from Tasmania's National Parks Association said he had never heard of an incident like what happened to Ms Evans.

"Certainly, we need to make sure of two things - that walkers take responsibility for their own actions but you can only do so much, you can't be aware of every controlled burn that's going to be conducted in the state, but also that Parks and Wildlife need to make sure that their procedures are squeaky clean," he said.

"I know from my experience from Parks, they're dedicated personnel."

"It seems more than likely it's a result of too few staff ... and that's the result of a government that hardly knows what our national parks are all about."

[Overlandman]

Sorry, didn't see the topic already posted
Fresh Bombing, now changed to Fire Bombing
under the Bushwalking Discussion Page
Regards Overlandman

[Zone-5]

A time when triggering a PLB is completely justified!

[north-north-west]

And pointless.

You're virtually surrounded by fire. There's nowhere you can stop safely to set it off and wait for evac. A reliable way to attract the flight crew's attention would have been more useful.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

In fact, operating the PLB may have been a very good idea.
It is reasonably likely the helicopter would have been monitoring the distress frequency 121.5 on their second COM set, unless for some reason they were using it for something else.
If they were bombing and suddenly received a strong distress signal, I'd imagine they'd have stopped bombing until they followed it up.

The likelyhood of seeing someone waving their beanie is not very high.

Sounds like a Parks communication problem.

[GPSGuided]

Earlier thread.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20039

[Zone-5]

Ahhhh, it's gone to air has it. Please tell me I don't look too indescribably old and ugly on screen.

Parks are being pretty good about it, actually. Making all the right noises privately, anyway. It's just that their internal investigation and review process is being dragged out - probably so people can get their *&^%$#@! covered - and I won't have a solid answer for another week at least, and probably more.

This went public mainly so people are aware of the potential dangers. Check where burning off is supposed to occur and don't trust the website to be entirely accurate on either location or date. (It says Holloway and Lily on the 4th May. This was Edith and well east of Holloway on the 29th April. After they did a bit between Mt Balfour & the Temma track on the 28th.) And make sure you have an escape plan just in case.
Oh, and a foolproof way to attract the flight crew's attention. I still can't believe that they didn't see me. I did everything short of a pole dance to get their attention.

Crikey! That's a lucky escape. Almost like being bombed in a war zone.

A bit of an exaggeration, but more or less what it felt like at the time. Can't recall a time on a walk when I've been so scared for so long. With the right gear you can cope with weather, but there's no protection against fire.

Glad to hear your OK Lee! A worrying time indeed...

If it was me I would have still ripped off the top of the PLB anyway during my speedy escape. The more things you have going for you in an emergency the better IMHO.




[EDIT by Moderator, as indicated, this topic is covered here - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20039 ]