Bushfire Brigades

1933

19 January 1933
Bush Fire Brigades
Commendable Action by Cudgegong Shire
PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
At the Cudgegong Shire Council meeting on Wednesday there was considerable discussion concerning the bush fire menace, and members displayed commendable interest in the matter. It was eventually decided to purchase fire lighting appliances which will be made available when occasion arises.
The following comprehensive report compiled by the president and clerk, was adopted.
Bush Fire Brigades: The matter of the establishment of Bush Fire Brigades in various centres in the Shire has received the attention of the President and myself since the last meeting, and a circular has been dispatched to persons resident 28 centres asking them to obtain an expression of opinion as to where the residents are desirous of 0btaining properly constituted Bush Fire Brigades.
These circulars were dispatched on the 3rd January and it is anticipated that replies should be received in the course of the next week or so, and in view of this, it is desired to make arrangements at this ? as regards Council's position in relation to the matter. I set out hereunder a resume of the law on the abject and certain suggestion and information for Council's guidance.
A. - Legal
The Local Government (Bush Fires) Amendment. Act 1932 gives Council the power to organise Bush Fire Brigades in districts not situated within a fire district constituted under the Fire Brigade Act 1909-1927. In respect of each Brigade so organised the Council appoints a Captain and a Vice-Captain, the latter acting during the absence of the former. The Captain is empowered to destroy or remove or cause to be destroyed or removed any buildings, fences, or structures or any living or dead vegetation, and may use or direct to be used any water where such destruction removal or use is advisable or in his opinion is advisable to protect life or property from any existing or imminent bush fire.
In carrying out his powers no right of action lies against him or any person acting under his direction in respect of any bona-fide action in this direction and any damage done is deemed to be damage by fire within the meaning of any Fire Insurance Policy. The Captain's authority must be recognised by all persons and the police are required to assist him in forcing compliance with any directions lawfully given by him. Any person obstructing him in his duty is liable for a penalty not exceeding £10. In case of emergency the Captain is empowered to exercise his powers in any area or part thereof.
The Act also makes provision for the planning of fire breaks and in this connection the Council may order the owner or occupier of any land to make and maintain a fire break of a kind and dimension as may be notified. The person so ordered has power to appeal to a Court of Petty Sessions against any order so given by the Council.
B. - General and Suggestions
1. As will be noted the central figure in this matter of a Bush Fire Brigade is the Captain, of the Deputy Captain when acting, and great care should be taken to see that the best men available are appointed to these positions.
When application is made for the appointment of a Brigade it is suggested that the members of the Brigade, elect a Captain and Deputy Captain and that their names be submitted to the President, and one other Councillor and that they be empowered to approve or disapprove of the appointments on behalf of the Council. It is considered that no difficulty will be experienced in this direction as the members of each Brigade will be very careful in their selection.
2. For the purpose of organisation it is suggested that each Brigade roughly define its area of activities.
3. After formation of the Brigade, and the appointment of the officers everything will depend upon the needs of each particular district and the interest of the Captain and his colleagues as to the measures then to be adopted. The Captain on his appointment could carefully go over the needs of his district and ascertain whether any measures are required to prepare for contingencies. He may consider that a system of fire breaks is required and he could recommend to Council, a course of action in this direction, or that certain tracts which act as natural fire breaks, should be burnt off on both sides, and he could recommend this to Council and organise his brigade to perform the work. Whatever the requirements of the district may be he could report on them and Council could then take whatever action it considers necessary in the matter. In addition to assessing the requirements of his area he could arrange certain details for use in case of fire, such as the system of notification and alarm, the work to be performed by certain persons and what implements each member is to bring, in fact lay down necessary procedure to be followed on the giving of an alarm and perfect his organisation as may be desirable. All these matters of organisation, can be performed by the Captain on the understanding, that if he requires any preventive measures taken these must be submitted to Council for its approval.
4. It would be wise for Council to determine whether it intends to take any action in the matter of providing any equipment for brigades that may be established. At the present time no provision is made for the keeping on hand of fire lighting equipment of any kind, and if a request is made to Council it would not be possible to supply any article for this purpose. In view of this the Council might consider whether it will supply such implements as leather beaters to the Brigade Captains and purchase some unit for fire fighting which could be kept at the Shire Hall in readiness for use and for transport to any seat of fire. There may be other avenues in which Council can assist and it could signify its readiness to cooperate in any direction possible with brigades established. In view of the interest now taken in the organisation of Bush Fire Brigades this fact is mentioned in case Council is desirous of prohibiting burning off during certain months unless Council's written permission is first obtained.
Conclusion There is one point in particular it is desired to make clear; quite a few persons, have taken the point of view that the organisation of Brigades is not necessary as the residents are always very willing to band together immediately a bushfire occurs; this is quite true and in some cases the organisation of a brigade and the appointment of a Captain will not result in a great deal more activity and willingness than has been evidenced in the past, but it is desired to point out that there are many good points in favour of having in the locality a man whose duty it is to control all fire fighting activities and who is empowered to take certain action in the case of an outbreak of fire, especially if such person is prepared to take an interest in his position and prepare for any contingency that may arise. This mere clothing of a responsible individual with certain powers may make a lot of difference under certain circumstances. If managed properly it is considered that a Bush Fire Brigade and its Captain would be a means of greater security in any district. Cr. Macarthur moved that three fire fighting appliances, costing about £12/10/-, together with a dozen leather beaters, be purchased. Cr. Wisbey seconded. Cr. Gleeson moved, as an amendment, that one firefighter and beaters be purchased. Seconded by Cr. Baker and supported by Cr. Suttor. The amendment was carried. It was resolved to apply for power to prohibit the clearing of land by burning off during the months of December, January and February without permission of Council, also the lighting of any stubble fire before 6 p.m. during the months mentioned1 .

1942

19 October 1942
Cudgegong Shire Council
BUSH FIRE CAMPAIGN
Country Brigades Getting Busy
The Cudgegong Shire Council mustered a full board for Wednesday's meeting, over which President McKenzie presided. Matters in connection with the bush fires campaign were under discussion, and the clerk reported that he had forwarded all the latest particulars to the various brigades throughout the shire.
BUSH FIRE PREPARATIONS
The Bush Fires Advisory Committee wrote forwarding particulars of the campaign outlined for the coming season. The burning of breaks, etc., was considered imperative, while burning off during the period from November to the end of February was absolutely prohibited unless special permission was secured and the necessary breaks provided. Assistance would be given in the direction of supplying equipment. The president reported that the Erudgere-Grattai brigade had secured several knapsack pumps, but efforts to secure the necessary hose had resulted in failure. Cr. Downey stated that the local police inspector would like to see council give the campaign every possible support. The clerk reported that every brigade in the shire had been furnished with all the particulars available. Some had replied stating that everything possible was being done to place the brigades in fighting order. It was resolved to repeat last year's donation towards the cost of insurance, also to instruct maintenance men to clear all inflammable material from wooden bridge approaches throughout the shire2 .

1944

9 November 1944
BUSH FIRE BRIGADES
Largely Attended Conference Important Motions Carried
The recent bush fire brigade's conference in the Cudgegong Shire Hall was attended by representatives of Cudgegong Limestone, Wollar, Pyramul, Hargraves, Cullenbone, Lue, Erudgere-Grattai, Yarrabin and Windeyer brigades, which organisations have 390 registered bush fire fighters on the lists. The large attendance furnished convincing evidence of the great interest displayed in the bush fire brigade movement, and Cr. Barton, who presided, paid a well-deserved tribute to all those who had rendered such valuable service during the past year. The council, he said, fully appreciated the spirit which prompted the members to band together in this very necessary work of protection. During the course of the conference very deep appreciation was expressed at the splendid cooperation extended by the postal and telephone officials and the police force. The following motions were carried:-
From Yarrabin. - That, in the event of a serious fire, this group of representatives of bush fire brigades agree to the taking of uni form action as follows: Immediately the brigade in the affected area is mobilised the captain to instruct his secretary or other member appointed by the captain to take charge of base organisation at the telephone most convenient to the scene of the fire; the importance of complete extinction of fire, and then maintenance of such extinction, to be fully recognised, and the order to call out to the owner and neighbors; local brigades, outside brigades and adjoining brigades, and brigades to recognise the importance of checking in and out of base; no messages, except written messages from captain or deputy captain, to be transmitted by telephone. (Note: See resolution No. 2 hereunder, which also refers to matters of somewhat similar import).
From Wollar. - That the captain of the bush fire brigade in whose area the bush fire is located, take charge and supervise the whole of the firefighters in that area; that the captain of a bush fire brigade bringing his brigade to the assistance of a local brigade, should report to its captain and be allotted by him a portion of the fire to be controlled by his brigade, the men of the assisting brigade to be under the direction of their own captain; that each bush fire brigade brings its own fire fighting equipment and provisions and water, etc., for 24 hours; that volunteer firefighters not being members of a bush fire brigade report to the captain of the bush fire brigade in whose area the fire is located, such volunteers to be under his direct control and be provisioned by him; that each member of a bush fire brigade, and non-member be asked to bring his own water bag and pannikin.
From Cullenbone. - That, in the event of an outbreak of fire in any area, the telephone network be placed at the disposal of the captain or deputy captain of the brigade in that area, or persons authorised by them; that it be a recommendation to the Postmaster General that a bush fire brigade captain or deputy captain have first call on the telephone service at all times during a fire and that this rule be strictly enforced; that portable telephone sets be made available to brigades.
From Cudgegong - Limestone. That this conference recommend to the Government that special instructions covering the careful use of fire be imparted to all prisoners of war, either through the interpreter or by other means.
From Erudgere - Grattai. - That the opinion of this conference is that, when applications are made to burn off, applicant first obtain the approval of captains of brigades in whose area the land is situated before application is made to council for issue of permit; that the Government Stores Department be requested to supply suitable containers for packing water on horses. From Yarrabin. - That owners of properties in all areas suitable for the purpose be requested to have shod horses and shoes for pack horses available for use by brigades; that this conference affirm its confidence in the volunteer system of bush fire organisation. The following motion was also carried: - That brigades in whose area a fire occurs make arrangements for provision of food after the first 24 hours for all persons at fire, and that the question of cost be determined by conference. After discussion, it was decided to contact each brigade in the area regarding costs and that the council make final decision3 .

1945

11 March 1945
Bush Fire Brigades
BIG MUDGEE CONFERENCE
Question of Food Costs
An important conference of bush fire brigades was held in the Cudgegong Shire Council Chambers on Friday afternoon last, and representatives were present from Cudgegong Limestone, Cullenbone, Erudgere-Grattai, Hargraves, Wollar, Yarrabin, Cooyal-Botobolar, Havilah and Lue. Mr. Kingsmill, a member of the Bush Fire Advisory Committee, was also in attendance.
Cr. Barton (president) presided, and welcomed the representatives. The large attendance, he said, showed that interest was being well maintained.
Mr. Kingsmill delivered a very interesting address. He conveyed a message of goodwill from Mr. Baddeley, Chief Secretary, who, the speaker said, was deeply interested in the bush fire brigade movement.
Mr. Kingsmill went on to say that the committee had no desire to interfere with the internal arrangements of the bushfire brigades, but wished to act in an advisory capacity. When the committee was organised there were 450 bush fire brigades, and in six years the number had increased to 1000. The big majority had been formed by shire councils, the remainder by the police. Since 1942 the committee had made £13,000 available to the brigades, and Cudgegong shire had shared in that grant.
Touching on the matter of equipment, the speaker stated that the question of providing water containers to be carried by horses in the mountainous country was under review, while water bottles were to be supplied free by the army authorities. Inquiries were being made as to the possibility of extending the field wireless operations. The scheme had been tried out in the Dubbo and Young districts, amateurs being in charge of operations. The equipment required cost about £30.
Mr. Kingsmill quoted extracts from the order issued by the committee which gave councils and bush fire brigade captains the power to act swiftly in case of outbreaks. Fences could be pulled down, buildings demolished, roads closed and breaks burned where such were deemed expedient. "The battle of the bush will be won by the councils and the bush fire brigades. It cannot be done in Sydney, but the committee will stand behind and advise the fighting units," the speaker added.
In reply to Mr. Sheehan (Wollar), the speaker stated that, as far as he was aware, there was no means by which landowners could be compensated for damage done to property on which fires had occurred.
Replying to Mr. Lewis (Yarrabin), Mr. Kingsmill stated that "walkie-talkie" sets were controlled by the army and could not be made available to civilians at present. The committee, however, was keeping the matter in mind.
Mr. Lewis also referred to telephone congestion on single wire lines in the country. Fire fighting operations could, he said, be seriously affected as a result.
Mr. Kingsmill promised to take the matter up with the postal authorities.
The following statement was then submitted by the shire clerk:
Most delegates to this conference are aware of the fact that at the last conference, held on October 27, 1944, the question of determining what policy should be laid down in relation to food costs in cases where a bushfire is so serious as to necessitate assistance outside of the affected brigade was under consideration. The diversity of opinions then expressed caused the conference to pass a resolution providing for the council to make contact with the various brigades and obtain their considered opinions in connection with this matter and, after taking into account these opinions, to come to a final determination to operate for the future.
When the statements of the brigades came to hand it was found that the variety of ideas as expressed at the previous conference were still evident, and as several brigades thought that the matter should be further discussed by the associated brigades, it was decided to call this conference to hear an address by a representative of the Bush Fires Advisory Committee and to endeavor to find a satisfactory formula to resolve the question of the allocation of food, costs.
Since the date of the last conference the brigades were called upon to assist in the combat of a large outbreak of fire which extended from Budgee to Bara, and the food despatched to the Botobolar section necessitated an expenditure of £30 15s 5d. This amount was referred to the Bush Fires Relief Committee through the Bush Fires Advisory Committee, and a grant of £20 was made available by the Government to cover part of this expense.
The following statement details the opinions of the various brigades as expressed either as the result of contact immediately following the last conference or in response to a request for resolutions for this conference:-
Cudgegong-Limestone: That it be a recommendation to the shire that it pay half the cost of food required for any fire when such cost exceeds ? and that the brigade in whose area the fire occurs pay the remaining half; any cost under £10 to be paid by the home brigade.
Cullenbone: That the brigade in whose area the fire occurs be responsible for the cost of provisions on the understanding that each bush fire brigade member takes sufficient food for the first 24 hours he is at the fire.
Erudgere-Grattai: Firefighters attending fires within 24 hours of the outbreak to bring their own food, if possible. After the fire is 24 hours old, the brigade or brigades in whose area the fire is burning to be responsible for supplying food and water to firefighters and that the brigade whose area the fire occurs be responsible for the full cost of food provided.
Hargraves: (1) That all firefighters take with them at least one day's supply of food. (2) That the captain (or his deputy) of the brigade governing the area where the fire exists take immediate action to secure sufficient food for all fighters operating at the fire. In the event of other brigades coming in to assist, their captains or their deputies co-operate with the home captain in securing sufficient supplies for all concerned. All purchases to be made through one channel. (3) In the event of a fire spreading to such an extent that it is not possible to adequately supply the fighters from one centre, the captains of each section secure sufficient food for their own men, and where possible through the same channel. (4) When the fire has been extinguished all accounts to be forwarded to the shire or shires concerned, and after any action by the shire has been taken, all brigades within the shire or shires contribute to the cost.
Pyramul: That the cost of food should be met by the brigade or brigades in whose area the fire occurs.
Windeyer: That the brigade in whose area the fire occurs be responsible for providing food after the first 24 hours and also be responsible for meeting the expenditure incurred from its own funds.
Wollar: That each brigade provide and pay for its own provisions for the duration of any fire.
Yarrabin: That each brigade maintain its own food and water for the first 24 hours, then the shire in whose area the fire exists provide and pay for all food necessary to keep brigades at the fire, afterwards apportioning the cost to the brigades concerned and obtaining payment from them.
General Resolutions
From Wollar: That if no provision is already made in the law to provide for Mr. James to act as a central authority during the course of bush fire fighting operations, the conference resolve that the shire clerk so act during the period a bushfire is being fought.
Note: This resolution aims to provide that the shire clerk shall virtually be the town representative of the brigade to whom all requests for assistance, etc., shall be directed, thus giving him the power to regulate the flow of bush fire fighters from other brigades in the shire or from any other source, so as to ensure the proper staffing of the fire.
From Yarrabin: That the Bush Fires Advisory Committee be requested to take up with the State Government the question of permitting individual members of brigades to purchase through Government stores knapsack sprays for their own use under conditions whereby such sprays are made available for use at a bushfire at tended by the fire brigade concerned.
From Erudgere-Grattai: That representations be made to the Government to provide that the matter of permission to burn off in any shire be left solely to the discretion of the captain of the brigade area and the shire council.
Messrs. Phillips (Cudgegong Limestone), Brownhill (Cullenbone), Hawkins (Erudgere-Grattai), Fraser (Hargraves), Single (Wollar) and Lewis (Yarrabin) sponsored the resolutions framed by their brigades, while Mr. Baker (Cooyal) favored the striking of a small special rate to cover fire fighting costs.
Mr. Combes (Lue) considered that the brigade in whose area the fire occurred should meet the food costs, which would not be heavy. Motions and amendments regarding costs were put, but all were defeated, and it looked as if a deadlock had been reached. At this stage the clerk intimated that, sensing the possibility of a deadlock, he had prepared the following resolution, which could, if the delegates so desired, be used as a basis for a compromise: -
That the conference recommend to the shire council that, in relation to future expenditure in connection with food costs applicable to any large scale, outbreak of bushfire necessitating the attendance of more than the home brigade, the accounts for costs incurred by the brigades in relation to food be forwarded to the council; that the expenditure incurred by the council for food be added to these accounts and the full food cost thus obtained; that the cost then be allocated as follows: two thirds to be borne by the council, one-third to be borne by the home brigade. In the event of the State Government contributing towards such food costs, the grant made available to be applied as follows: two-thirds of grant in reduction of council's expenditure, one-third of grant in reduction of home brigade's expenditure.
The clerk's suggestions were then adopted.
Wollar's suggestion that Mr. James be appointed a central authority found general favor. Several delegates stated that the shire clerk had performed particularly fire service during the recent fire and that the various brigades had complete confidence in him.
Sergeant Hayes asked if the police force could obtain spray pumps, which, he stated, were invaluable for fire fighting.
Mr. Kingsmill stated that the police commissioner had taken the matter up with the authorities.
Referring to the Erudgere Grattai resolution concerning burning off, Mr. Kingsmill stated that it was considered advisable to have some central control.
His views were shared by the majority of delegates and the motion was defeated.
On the motion of Messrs. Lewis and Petrie, supported by Mr. Single, a vote of thanks to Mr. Kingsmill was carried by acclamation and that gentleman briefly responded4 .

11 June 1945
RYLSTONE NEWS
Meeting of Bush Fire Brigades
A meeting of the above brigades, called by the shire president, and held in the Memorial Hall, Rylstone, on Saturday afternoon, June 2, was very well attended. The chair was occupied by the shire president, Cr. J. N. Taylor, and the following brigades were represented, viz., Rylstone, Kandos, Ilford, Two Mile, Lue, Bogi-Meri-Angles, South Bylong, Upper Bylong and Running Stream. An apology was received from Cudgegong-Limestone.
The suggestion as put forward by the shire council for a central control post was adopted. Other matters dealt with included the defining of boundaries5 .

References