Ralph,
Many thanks for this corrective. I was worried in that post that I didn't
make it clear enough that what happened in the Pilliga Forest fire wasn't
meant to question the fire-figthers who were brought in but the NSW
Government actions in that fire. I checked the date, it was 1997, just before
the NSW elections, so it was as I suspected another example of
electioneering. (The question is: why weren't the local fire fighters who
know the conditions not called out immediately and why were fire fighters who
did not know the area flown in from interstate at great expense, if you can
follow the argument, here. Flying fire fighters in makes a good media story
where as locals don't, in this region, anyway.)
Also thanks Martin for mentioning the German press coverage suspecting
scapegoating. It made me feel more confident about my own analysis.
Chris Jones.
On Friday 04 January 2002 13:21, you wrote:
> Dear Chris,
>
> Read your post yesterday and started thinking of the Tasmanian contingent
> sent up there. Only about fifty, but highly experienced (some attended the
> fires in the US a year ago), definitely capable of managing more than 20
> acre grass fires (all three arms of the fire fighting services here work in
> forest conditions) ... and very capable women amongst the crews sent up
> yesterday. Conditions vary with each fire I guess.
>
> Best,
>
> Ralph
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