Fire lighting trials

Print date: 24 May 2007

Fire lighting trials

 

Department of Conservation (DEC) officers experimented with an incendiary device slung from a helicopter last week near Emu Creek, east of Kununurra.
The device is designed to deliver burning material evenly along a front to achieve cool burns at the end of the dry season.
Surefire gell is mixed with methanol and petroleum in a 210-litre drum and delivered to igniters through a device attached to the drum.
A helicopter takes the device over the target area and a DEC officer controls when and where to start fires.
Meanwhile, a ground crew stands by to control the fire.
Last week's trial was hampered by moist conditions and a problem with the ignition system.
DEC hopes to use the system to conduct cool burns at the end of the wet season to avoid the very destructive hot burns that occur later in the dry season.

 

 

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