The Kingiman Fire, from the number of sandwiches made to the number of firefighting teams on the ground, was is an incredible example of control and precision.
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Finding out some of the facts and figures involved with a fire like this is an interesting and often overlooked part of an emergency situation.
The Rural Fire Service provided the Milton Ulladulla Times with the interesting facts and figures
The fire was initially reported on the evening of August 11 2018. First arriving Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews found a fire burning on both sides of Kingiman Road in inaccessible terrain.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service assisted by RFS volunteers and water-bombing aircraft worked hard to contain the fire between August 11 and the morning of August 15.
On the morning of Wednesday August 15, under strong westerly winds, the Kingiman Fire broke containment, threatening properties west of Burrill Lake.
At the height of the firefighting effort there were 300 firefighters from RFS, Fire and Rescue NSW, and National Parks and Wildlife Service on the fire ground in 65 fire appliances, assisted by eight aircraft and three bulldozers.
The Shoalhaven Catering Brigade (NSW RFS Volunteers) produced 1500 sandwich packs on August 15 and averaged around 1000 sandwich packs per day in the following four days.
Tragically, helicopter pilot Allan Tull was killed in a fatal helicopter crash during firefighting efforts on August 17.
The Kingiman Fire was contained on August 19.
The fire burnt out a total of 2240 hectares.
Building Impact Assessment teams confirmed 15 outbuildings were destroyed and five outbuildings sustained damaged.
No homes were damaged or destroyed.
The fire was declared out on September Sunday 9.
Subsequent investigations by RFS fire investigators with the assistance of NSW Police determined that the cause of the Kingiman Fire was an unattended campfire on private property which burnt into the adjacent Morton National Park.
Important information for landowners
It's important that residents stay up to date before, during and after bushfires and other emergencies.
Residents can stay up to date through a range of channels including www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, listening to your local radio station, calling the Bushfire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or by checking the Fires Near Me NSW smartphone app.
The Bush Fire Danger Period in the Shoalhaven commences on September 1 through to March 31
Getting ready for a bushfire is easier than you think.
By taking 20 minutes with your family to discuss what you'll do during a fire, you could save their lives, as well as your home.
For more information, residents can visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or download the My Fire Plan smartphone app.
Some basic maintenance tips to prepare your property include:
- Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs
- Enclose the areas under the house
- Keep lawns short and gardens well maintained and
- Have hoses long enough to reach around your house.
