STATISTICS
Over 85 fires
4,500 firefighters
90 aircraft
Over
1million acres burned
50 houses destroyed
1 death
Power blackouts
Road | rail chaos
Estimated cost
over A$100 million
|
|
This incident highlights the non-local
nature of TWM
services and clearly demonstrates its unique fire suppression ability.
During October - November, TWM was
actively
involved
with the America's Cup races in Auckland,
NZ.
At the same time a watching brief was maintained on the drought |
bushfire
crisis in Australia, over 2,000 kms away.
By 6 December, the situation had worsened
and Sydney
was being threatened by massive firestorms. Weather forecasters
predicted
a "day from hell" was imminent. TWM emailed the NSW Premier, Bob Carr,
with an offer to "end the crisis before further destruction and loss of
life is incurred".
Between 8 and 10 December, parts
of
Queensland and NSW received
intense, widespread rainfall and the fires were brought under
control.
Mopping up of the remaining fires continued but the danger to Sydney
had
been successfully averted.
Compare this with the disastrous
Canberra fires a month later, when TWM was unable to respond while
NSW Minister Bob Debus procrastinated. |
|
|
