Tiger74 said:
on the helicopters, I understand this has been looked at, but they decided the best option is to keep sharing the ones from North America. This is because they only use theirs for half the year, and we only need them for the other half, so it works for both sides to utilize the same resource.
On the sea water, off memory most of the fires are not near the coast this time, so its easier to get it from lakes and dams. Also I reckon there may be longer term consequences to dumping sea water on farmland (farmers will look to rebuild after the fire, and not sure what condition the soil would be in if it has salt water dumped on it).
Fair points raised mate. But I think we only "share" 2 heavy lift crane copters (could be wrong).
With fires in NSW, Vic and last year SA who decides where they go?
The reason I said sea water, there seems to be a dearth of freshwater around atm. With most fires would have been within 200-400k's of the coast, with a relay of planes or heavy lift copters it would be an hour or two flight time initially, then a constant relay in cycles
While I'm sure the farmers would need to cope with it, to me it could have been dumped near where people were at risk, that would be the priority.
Maybe something to look at in the aftermath review. Where Rudd was going to give out $42b and borrow another $200b, perhaps look at and building infrastructure that could pipe excess floodwater (ie from Nth Qld) and store it near NSW/Qld border. To help irrigation and provide a central water source for National Emergencies such as this.
Maybe "pie in the sky" but it needs looking into every alternative.
There have to be serious questions raised and solutions forthcoming.
WesternTiger said:
Sorry MR this had nothing to do with our ability to fight fires. Extra tankers or aircraft would have done little to prevent this
I don't profess to be a fire-fighting expert WT, but I would have thought that with extra assets it could have helped slow the build up of fires. I know conditions were horrendous and a recipe for disaster, but with saturation bombing, even if it was in or around towns, it may have reduced some fatalities. But that alone, would not be enough. Early warning systems, fire-proof shelters. Maybe some people were just unaware of the speed these fires can travel. General apathy, who knows, we need more education with how to deal with such fire storms. When you see people standing in thongs and singlets spraying a garden hose it goes to show people aren't aware of the effects of radiant heat etc.
I think in the aftermath, more education, early warning systems, planned evacuation systems, water storage, underbrush/forestry growth management and building permits will all come under some scrutiny.
Bloody shame it wasn't in place prior to such loss.
