One of the main reasons they recommend laying low and covering yourselves in cars, is to shield you from the heat. Even the firies in the trucks that have their emergency water protection systems will still cover the windows to shield from the heat. But the biggest message from your video is, be careful, do your research and use common sense. A pretty good trifecta of things to stay safe. 🙂
Great topic Adam 👍 I keep two x GV Tools Emergency Safety Hammers in my rig just in case I roll it or end up in the drink. One on the dash & one mounted on the back of the centre console. They break car glass easily, have a seat belt cutter & come with a mounting bracket. They only cost $12ea from Repco so are a must have IMO. More so in a modern vehicle that can lock itself but really should be in every vehicle. My other tip is for putting out camp fires. Firstly, on the beach, DO NOT put a fire out by covering it with sand. Covering them holds the heat in for a very long time, sometimes a couple of days & there's no chance of seeing it until it's too late. We have had several children in WA step in covered up camp fires & receiving very nasty burns. My other tip is to always break the fire apart (take wood out of the main coals) before thoroughly soaking everything with water. This removes unburnt wood from the main source of heat making it easier to put out but more importantly, greatly reducing the chance of the wood reigniting.
just a quick note guys, wool or mohair blankets are better than synthetic especially if they have been wetted down, they might smolder but will not catch alight
While I can see the thinking behind burning in front to create a fire break I personally don't think I would like that one. Very easy to become trapped between 2 fires with no escape. I use the Hazards Near Me app on my phone which I can set Watch Areas and this notifies me pretty quick if there is a fire near by. I than look at weather conditions etc to work out which way it might be moving. As you mentioned you should always have an escape plan, know what tracks are around that you could use etc. I also know in my normal camp area there are a number of dams along the sides of the tracks as it is State Forest and they were used for logging and fire fighting. Things like this could save you. I would be worried about laying inside the car but I get that as the fire will burn around the vehicle before it burns inside and that may be enough to get you safe. Still with a tank of Petrol below me I would be very worried.
We did a video called The Travellers Bushfire Checklist (check our Community Tab for the link) that might be useful for those on the road. It is a subject most people don't really think a lot about until something goes wrong. We had to abandon our campsite a couple of years back when there was a huge bushfire near Margaret River. Thankully all the gear survived but a huge area was totally burned out. Staying in the vehicle is the official advice but the sad truth is, in a bad fire, you are unlikely to survive in the vehicle or out. We cover this in our video.
Leave your vehicle running, windows up, air conditioner on, air recirculating. Dry as bone last resort they have oil coating. Your right too once fire front has past, and safe look under vehicle for fire.
Hi Adam, quite a few years ago we attended an open day for the local Bush Fire Brigade and I posed the same "light my own fire" question if threatened. It did not go down well and I could not get an answer, and it is something that has been on my mind since. I can understand the concern about property being lost, but as you pointed out, if it is a life or death situation I am sure I would do it.
My opinion: The "light my own fire" method will not work in most situations. Reason: it's a question of time. In a forrest it will take a long time to burn an area big enough. Usually you won't have that time if a bushfire is coming towards you. The method may work in Savannah-like terrain, with just a little grass to burn. It probably won't work in bushland or forrest, because there is more material to burn and that will take longer. I think the "be informed, be aware, be prepared" approach is usefull and important.
Forget the advice of Smokey the Bare, forget Bare Grills, forget Caramella Koala Bare, listen to the advice of my local hero, Grizzly Addam from Going Overland for the best fire advice. It just burns me up when people, silly people, silly little people, like dwarfs and midgets let their fires get out of control. Nothing fires me up more than inconsiderate bugs, fire bugs like fire flies that reduce our woodlands to smouldering piles of ash. Charcoal, coal, is there nothing that can ignite the fervour in people to act responsibly around fires. I love archery and I was known in the past to shoot a flaming arrow at my brother however, this is just irresponsible, it is a waste of good arrows. Have fun around the BBQ. Cheers Brian.
Tip, think where you park your vehicle. A fire bomber might spot you and drop a protection load. And radio where you are to others. Use the camper as a protection wall. Then, when the main fronts go through, then drive out away from burning camper. Do not wet clothes. Water turns to steam. I have a water connection on the trailer. Dig a trench if time allows. Run the hose to car. Use it at the worst time. Create a spray. Heat barrier. Tape the trigger.
We have been in similar situations. One survival tip is to move into an area which has already burnt, obviously staying away from burning stumps. We were in a convoy which did this on Cape York. Another tip is to move away from ridgetops and into a low area.
One of the main reasons they recommend laying low and covering yourselves in cars, is to shield you from the heat. Even the firies in the trucks that have their emergency water protection systems will still cover the windows to shield from the heat. But the biggest message from your video is, be careful, do your research and use common sense. A pretty good trifecta of things to stay safe. 🙂
Good advice Adam. Super dry out west this year.
Great topic Adam 👍
I keep two x GV Tools Emergency Safety Hammers in my rig just in case I roll it or end up in the drink. One on the dash & one mounted on the back of the centre console. They break car glass easily, have a seat belt cutter & come with a mounting bracket. They only cost $12ea from Repco so are a must have IMO. More so in a modern vehicle that can lock itself but really should be in every vehicle.
My other tip is for putting out camp fires. Firstly, on the beach, DO NOT put a fire out by covering it with sand. Covering them holds the heat in for a very long time, sometimes a couple of days & there's no chance of seeing it until it's too late. We have had several children in WA step in covered up camp fires & receiving very nasty burns.
My other tip is to always break the fire apart (take wood out of the main coals) before thoroughly soaking everything with water. This removes unburnt wood from the main source of heat making it easier to put out but more importantly, greatly reducing the chance of the wood reigniting.
Leave early see smoke and go
Lovely Ep Guys and handy tips, I was in our local Qld BFB for 40 years, From that we are very weary were we camp and if we light a camp fire.
Great info 👍
just a quick note guys, wool or mohair blankets are better than synthetic especially if they have been wetted down, they might smolder but will not catch alight
While I can see the thinking behind burning in front to create a fire break I personally don't think I would like that one. Very easy to become trapped between 2 fires with no escape. I use the Hazards Near Me app on my phone which I can set Watch Areas and this notifies me pretty quick if there is a fire near by. I than look at weather conditions etc to work out which way it might be moving. As you mentioned you should always have an escape plan, know what tracks are around that you could use etc. I also know in my normal camp area there are a number of dams along the sides of the tracks as it is State Forest and they were used for logging and fire fighting. Things like this could save you. I would be worried about laying inside the car but I get that as the fire will burn around the vehicle before it burns inside and that may be enough to get you safe. Still with a tank of Petrol below me I would be very worried.
I would use a wool blanket. Oilskin coats are made of oiled cotton not leather. Not sure how they would go in a fire. Stay safe guys 😊
We did a video called The Travellers Bushfire Checklist (check our Community Tab for the link) that might be useful for those on the road. It is a subject most people don't really think a lot about until something goes wrong. We had to abandon our campsite a couple of years back when there was a huge bushfire near Margaret River. Thankully all the gear survived but a huge area was totally burned out. Staying in the vehicle is the official advice but the sad truth is, in a bad fire, you are unlikely to survive in the vehicle or out. We cover this in our video.
Leave your vehicle running, windows up, air conditioner on, air recirculating. Dry as bone last resort they have oil coating. Your right too once fire front has past, and safe look under vehicle for fire.
Gods must be crazy was good but thanks for sharing
Hi Adam, quite a few years ago we attended an open day for the local Bush Fire Brigade and I posed the same "light my own fire" question if threatened. It did not go down well and I could not get an answer, and it is something that has been on my mind since. I can understand the concern about property being lost, but as you pointed out, if it is a life or death situation I am sure I would do it.
My opinion: The "light my own fire" method will not work in most situations. Reason: it's a question of time. In a forrest it will take a long time to burn an area big enough. Usually you won't have that time if a bushfire is coming towards you.
The method may work in Savannah-like terrain, with just a little grass to burn. It probably won't work in bushland or forrest, because there is more material to burn and that will take longer.
I think the "be informed, be aware, be prepared" approach is usefull and important.
Forget the advice of Smokey the Bare, forget Bare Grills, forget Caramella Koala Bare, listen to the advice of my local hero, Grizzly Addam from Going Overland for the best fire advice. It just burns me up when people, silly people, silly little people, like dwarfs and midgets let their fires get out of control. Nothing fires me up more than inconsiderate bugs, fire bugs like fire flies that reduce our woodlands to smouldering piles of ash. Charcoal, coal, is there nothing that can ignite the fervour in people to act responsibly around fires. I love archery and I was known in the past to shoot a flaming arrow at my brother however, this is just irresponsible, it is a waste of good arrows. Have fun around the BBQ. Cheers Brian.
Numpties. 🙄
Back burn ahead of the fire front to remove the fuel load before the fire front has time to get to you.
You fight fire, with fire.
Tip, think where you park your vehicle. A fire bomber might spot you and drop a protection load. And radio where you are to others. Use the camper as a protection wall. Then, when the main fronts go through, then drive out away from burning camper. Do not wet clothes. Water turns to steam. I have a water connection on the trailer. Dig a trench if time allows. Run the hose to car. Use it at the worst time. Create a spray. Heat barrier. Tape the trigger.
👍👍
That's what you do. & Lay down low as possible in a rut.
We have been in similar situations. One survival tip is to move into an area which has already burnt, obviously staying away from burning stumps. We were in a convoy which did this on Cape York. Another tip is to move away from ridgetops and into a low area.
Have you done the telegraph track. I was wondering because I did it last year and week got stuck if a bush fire