NEWSLETTER 03/09/2009
Captain: Terry Myers Numeralla Village 6453 3358
Senior Deputy: Steve Donkers Peak View Road 6453 3360
Deputies: Peter Vlahos Numeralla Village 6453 3001
Les Robinson Rose Valley 6452 1647
Peter Jackson Peak View Road 6453 3355
Dick Swain Countegany Road 6453 3016
Craig Mitchell Countegany 6453 3388
President: Craig Mitchell Countegany 6453 3388
Secretary &
Treasurer: Steve Donkers Peak View Road 6453 3360
Permit Issues: Terry Myers, Craig Mitchell
Training Officer: Bruce English 6453 3317
Call Out Officers:
Barbara Myers, Janice Goodwin, Belinda Vlahos
Equipment Officers:
Peter Wood, Peter Jackson, Matt Alexander,
Mark Shubert
NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE - Cooma-Monaro District
Web Site
RFS Open Day Saturday 26 September 2009, NCVBFB Shed, opposite the Oval
Your Brigade will be participating in this year's open day. come down to the shed from 10.00 for a chat and stay for a sausage from the barbeque around midday.During the day the Brigade will demonstrate why you should not use water on cooking oil fires, and how to deal with them safely.
Action Planning Session Sunday 20 September 2009, Numeralla Public School commencing 10.00 am.
Several residents have approached the Brigade for information about how to make their property fire safe. We have therefore arranged to hold an information session at the school to discuss bush fire risks in our area and things like stay or go strategies, evacuations, muster points, communications etc. Carolyn Page & Clive Haggar from Smith's Road Fire Brigade have recently conducted an action planning session for their area and have kindly offered to facilitate the discussion in Numeralla. So please come along and bring a plate.
Official Fire Season
The fire season officially commences on 14th September, following which any fires require a permit through until April 2010.
The bush is extremely dry and the fire danger real so please be vigilant and report any smoke you see by dialing 000 (triple zero).
Training Opportunities
A variety of training programs are offered including Basic Firefighter, Chainsaw, and Rural Fire Driving. If you are interested in any training, please contact our training officer, Bruce English on 6453 3317 ASAP. More details are available on the web sites above.
Brigade Musters - Every 1st Sunday of the Month
Throughout the year we will continue to hold a Brigade Muster on the 1st Sunday of each month. These musters normally commence at 15.00, but can vary depending on the planned activity. Musters can involve training exercises, equipment maintenance, fire trail familiarisation, etc. Keep an eye on the notice board in the village, and/or our web site for any updates and reminders.
Request for Donations for the 2009/10 Fire Season
The Brigade has ongoing running costs that are not met by the Rural Fire Service or the Shire. For this reason we request a small donation each year from the residents and landholders to help keep us equipped and operational. We request a donation of $20 from residents and $30 from non-resident landholders. Any amount is gratefully accepted however.
All donations made to the Brigade over $2 are tax deductible, but you will need a receipt/tax invoice if you wish to make a claim. The Brigade will issue a tax invoice if you require one, and you supply a self addressed stamped envelope. Please identify on the tear off section on the other side of this newsletter if you require a receipt, and any corrections to the current information we have, and forward it with any donation. Include your email address if you would like to receive this newsletter, and other occasional updates that you would not otherwise get, via email. And while you're tearing up this newsletter, stick the Brigade contacts on your fridge just in case.
New Neighbours? Can you please let Steve, 6453 3360, know of anyone who should be on the mailing list, but isn't?
Lets hope for a quiet fire season, but prepare your house for a bush fire anyway by organising sufficient Water Supplies and Fire Fighting Equipment. Is your property prepared against bush fires and grass fires?
PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY NOW!
- Clear ground fuels around the house eg, long, dry grass, dead leaves and branches, thick undergrowth)
- Reduce Fire Fuels - Take a trip to the tip.
- Plant a combination of fire resistant plants on your property.
- Clear gutters.
- Ember-proof house and sheds.
- Join the Static Water Supply (SWS) program, let us know if you have a water supply available for fire fighting.
- Ensure roofing is firmly fixed.
- Prepare firebreaks (a well watered lawn can act as a firebreak). Keep pasture growth down.
- Install screens or shutters and enclose underfloor areas if possible.
- Screen vents into the roof space with fine wire mesh.
- Remove flammable items from around the house eg, door mats, woodpile, and obvious flammable materials such as paper, boxes, crates, hanging baskets, wooden garden furniture etc.
- Vent LPG gas tanks away from the house.
- Compile emergency phone list and leave near phone.
For more information contact one of your Brigade volunteers above, or Monaro Fire Control Centre, or phone the NSW RFS Information Line, 1800 654 443.
