Pinnacle- And Burning CNP [SEC=PERSONAL]

["Clifton" <>]

Marnix,
           No it is not a joke.  It is hazard reduction (not hazard
burning).   Up 'till about 10yrs ago, the NSW Rural Fire Service annually
carried out low intensity hazard reduction burns in the NSW section of the
Brindabella Ranges.  These typically happened in the area of Pig Hill and
Two Sticks Fire Trail.  However complaints from concerned ACT citizens about
smoke haze resulted in these activities ceasing.  The rest is history.

I happened to be in the area mentioned above on the day before the Jan 2003
firestorm.  I was on the ground but talking to the crew of "Georgia Peach"
about what could be done to save a dangerously developing situation.  I
would have swapped 100 choppers for a bit more hazard reduction.

It is not fair to ask Volunteers to go fire fighting into forested country
that has not been hazard reduced.  It is too bloody difficult.

The sceptics will just have to trust the Bushfire authorities. The community
has demanded protection and smoke haze is a side effect.

Cheers. Graeme Clifton