Weekly Newsletter - 19th December 2024

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Date: 21st Dec - 23th Dec (Christmas Roster starts 24th)

• First Call: Crew C
• Second Call: Crew B

Called to a 3rd alarm bushfire alongside Great Southern Highway, near Horton Rd. The fire burnt 32ha and showed intense fire behaviour at its peak. Mop-up and patrols continued through the week.

Attended by: Adrian (IMT), Ben, Daniel, Dave R., Dave We., Dave Wh., Denise, Elton, John R., Kaisi (Station Crew), Keith, Matt., Michelle, Rob, Sarah, Shane, and Warren.

Following a recent review of the Brigade roster, Brigade senior officers discussed the opportunity to promote some members to Senior Fire Fighter. Based on their training accomplishments and involvement within the Brigade, we are please to announce that Matt, Murray, and Sarah are promoted to the rank of Senior Fire Fighter. Congratulations to you all, and we look forward to seeing more of our members move through the ranks in the near future.

As has become tradition within the Brigade, the first draft of the Christmas Roster is attached and Cunningham's Law is invoked.

The roster aims to ensure that the Brigade maintains a high level of availability during the holiday period, whilst sharing the responsibility fairly amongst the members.

If you have any changes please contact Adrian before Saturday the 21st.

The 1.4 was recently back at the Shire workshop as the air-conditioner was under-performing. The workshop staff found that the internal cabin filter was completely blocked by dust, preventing the air-conditioner from operating.

To help maintain the air-conditioner we ask that you:

• Avoid travelling on dusty tracks, particularly around fire grounds, with the windows open;
• Make an effort to knock the dust off your boots when entering the cab.
• Ensure that the cab is properly cleaned out following each shift.

The effectiveness of the vehicle air-conditioners is a safety concern throughout the high threat period, especially during heatwave conditions as has been recently experienced.

If you have any questions regarding the air-conditioner or cleaning the vehicles, please contact Keith.

• Safety Circular 10/2024 - Crew Safety Reminder for the Current High Thread Period

No updates.

Photos are an important way of promoting our Brigade, and the activities which we undertake in aid of the community. If you have any photos which you would be happy for the Brigade to share and use, they can be submitted via the private Facebook group or by emailing Photos@SawyersValley.bfb.asn.au. The Facebook group is an excellent way of keeping up to date with recent brigade activities.

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle or Adrian.

• Saturday 21st: Weekly Vehicle Checks, 09:30 at the Station, Crew C
• Saturday 21st: Santa Run, Day 1
• Sunday 22nd: Santa Run, Day 2

• ABC News: One home under threat from Emergency level Grampians bushfire as residents told to leave
• ABC News Video: Be prepared': Fire officials urge Australians to plan ahead
• ABC News: Heatwave causes temperatures to soar, increasing fire danger
• ABC News: NT's Wongalara sanctuary protecting native wildlife using cool-burn fires
• ABC News: Hottest summer weather in five years predicted for coming days as heatwave engulfs half of Australia