Camp Ruffy Fire Plan

EMERGENCY CONTACTS:

• Dial 000 for FIRE - POLICE - AMBULANCE - in case of Bush Fire phone 000 immediately!

• Bushfire Information: 1800 240 667

• Bushfire Information: www.cfa.vic.gov.au or www.dse.vic.gov.au

• ABC Radio for emergency updates: 97.7 FM

• Our local fire observer on Mt Wombat: UHF 13

Which Fire District are we in?

• Camp Ruffy is located in the Northern Country Fire District

Camp Ruffy is located adjacent to a proclaimed wildfire region...

• The lighting of any fire in the open is prohibited by law during the Fire Danger Period and this is generally in place during December, January, February and March.

• Find the current exact dates on the CFA website, https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/home.

• Treat any and every nearby bush fire very seriously and activate the plans below

EMERGENCY EVACUATION:

• In times of extreme levels of concern (Code Red Days) all those unable to physically manage the stress of fighting/surviving a bush fire front should leave Camp Ruffy before 9.00 am and go to a safe place well away from the Strathbogie Ranges region - ensure all your relatives are aware of where you are.

• Do not attempt a late departure when fire and smoke are nearby.

• Advise your hosts Roger and Christine you are leaving as we do not wish to have anyone risking their lives to rescue guests who have already left.

EMERGENCY LOCATION:

• We believe that Resort Ruffy is relatively safe under extreme circumstances however you must be well protected against the massive levels of heat that will be radiated. No bare skin, cover up with wool and cotton NOT synthetics and bunker down in the bunkhouse until the front passes.

FIRE FIGHTING PPE

• Located in “The Old Hut” (Kidz Playroom) is 3 boxes on top of cupboards clearly marked "FIRE".

• PPE consists of...

  • 4 x Safety goggles (to protect eyes in smoke).

  • 9 x Dust masks (to assist breathing in smoke).

  • 6 x Pairs overalls (for better radiant heat protection).

  • 2 x Water pistols (to spray water into hard to get to places in ceiling).

ON DAYS OF TOTAL FIRE BAN:

• Have "Fire Fighting PPE" ready and available for quick and easy access.

• Bring Damara and Alpacas into the orchard and provide water.

ACTIONS ON EVERY TOTAL FIRE BAN DAY & IN CASE OF POSSIBLE THREAT for Christine and Roger

1. Confirm PPE location.

2. Turn solar pump on and pump water into the top tank from the bore - check for water noise at tank.

3. Remove any stock feed bales from the sheds and store outside in a clear area and securely tarp against ember attack.

4. Check house fire hoses are functional (one at each end of the building).

ACTIONS IN CASE OF IMMINENT THREAT (wildfire is coming towards Camp Ruffy) for Christine and Roger

Person 1 tasks:

1. Issue PPE - long pants & sleeves/boots/goggles/hat/air mask - no skin showing.

2. Move all burnables (furniture, cushions, doormats) from the verandah and store them in the hut.

3. Fill wheely bins with water and place on the deck near house and bunkhouse doors.

4. Lay out all shovels, rakes, buckets, mops, garden hoses, water pistols etc on deck.

5. Create easy access to ceiling cavity holes in storeroom & bunkhouse bedroom.

6. Place stepladders under those points (stepladders in storeroom and at machinery shed.

7. Fill and test water pistols in readiness to tackle embers in hard to get at locations.

8. Have towels, woollen blankets and water filled buckets inside and available at doors & windows.

9. Fill every available container - baths, sinks, buckets & bins, drums, wheely bins with water & store through building.

10. Fill drinking water containers, as tank water supplies may be exhausted/contaminated during the firefight.

11. Turn off big gas bottles (on back wall of house) and face gas cylinder valves away from building and any burnables.

12. Move 9kg gas bottles away from the BBQ to the "Swimming Shack".

13. Bring pets inside, secure on leashes if necessary, lock doggy door and provide bedding and plenty of water.

14. Ensure chickens have plenty of water & food. Open chicken run gate and tie it back to permit chickens entry into the orchard, and turn the chicken coop overhead sprinkler on permanently (until turned off) by bypassing the timer.

15. Phone/text immediate neighbours to make them aware of your presence and confirm they are OK.

16. Phone/text family and advise actions.

Person 2 tasks:

1. Move rams & wethers into Kyles Paddock and ewes and alpacas into the orchard. Do NOT try to round sheep up. It is much more productive to have them follow you with sheep nuts as a treat.

2. Open all gates (except where stock are located) for fire tanker access to dams, and park all motor vehicles in clearing behind pool.

3. Take extension ladder, stepladders and all garden hoses, shovels, spades and rakes to house deck.

4. Connect fire fighting tank trailer to Gizmo, fill fire pump & Gizmo with unleaded petrol, fill tank with water and check that pump starts on demand. Park in orchard paddock. Low range 4wd when travelling with full load and be wary of water surge and possible trailer tip over.

5. Fill Scoop with diesel and check that Ember Attacker extinguisher is ready, and then park in a clear section of the orchard.

6. Prepare chainsaw with fuel (two-stroke is in a 5 litre green container) & oil supplies plus PPE & place in Gizmo.

7. Close all doors to all sheds to minimise ember entry.

8. Shut off down pipes and fill gutters using the Fire Suppression system,

9. If flames are expected there, turn off water supply to Kyles Common water line to prevent water loss due to possible tap riser melt down by fire (blue valve is located between orchard fence and big Peppercorn just above Protea garden - look for the blue disc indicator).

10. If flames are expected there, turn off water supply to stock troughs water line to prevent water loss due to possible stock trough melt down by fire (blue valve is located just inside top Ridge Paddock fence across from big water tank - look for the blue disc indicator).

BE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YOU

• Listen to ABC local radio (97.7 FM) for fire information updates

• Tune into UHF 13 for Mount Wombat fire observation tower communications

• Download the Country Fire Authority app for your smart phone if not already installed

• Bushfire Information Line - phone: 1800 240 667.

• Country Fire Authority website - www.cfa.vic.gov.au or alternatively

• DSE website - www.dse.vic.gov.au

WATER STOP VALVES FROM 110,000 LITRE TOP TANK LOCATED AT...

1. Top Tank main outlet at base.

2. Ridge Paddock troughs, Drum Paddock trough - across main entrance driveway from Top Tank - look for blue disk marker on fence.

3. Kyles Common taps & troughs/shed taps/Baileys Breakaway trough - under big Peppercorn in orchard nearest to house - look for blue disc marker on fence.

4. House supply/Frogpond Paddock stock trough - look for blue disc marker in lower berry garden.This valve will also shut down #3 above.

FIRE FIGHTING TRAILER TANKER INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Connect fire tanker trailer to Gizmo.

2. Fill fire tank using the overhead "quick fill' facility on the outside wall of the machinery shed.

3. While the fire tank is filling, check oil (oil is stored with fuel in 400L fire tank carry box) and then prime yellow Davey firefighter pump with water by removing the top centre plug and filling it with water using a bucket.

4. Switch "starter switch" on - located on RHS of motor when looking from the rear.

5. Switch choke to on - to the left as per arrow sticker when looking from rear.

6. Switch petrol to on - to the right as per arrow sticker when looking from rear.

7. Switch throttle on towards left & align to near rabbit's bum sticker when looking from rear.

8. When motor starts and is running, switch choke to off

9. Then adjust throttle to idle until firefighting commences, when it should be adjusted to full on.

FIRE FIGHTING WATER RESOURCES:

• House Fire Hose - at each end of the house on the retaining wall is a fire hose connection point - this is where the fire hose is fitted at the end nearest the fire front.

• Gizmo Fire Trailer - carries a 3-metre hose to connect at the above point that is not currently being used by the house fire hose to refill the tank/s. The house fire hose end spray can also be unscrewed and used. A bulk overhead filling point is also located at the machinery sheds.

• CFA Tankers - Arlo Acres Dam, Yabby Dam and fire tanker fill point (look for the red disc) in Kyles Common at Orchard top gate. This connector is directly linked to the top tank - 110,000 litres when full.

LINES OF DEFENCE:

1. Evacuation, but before 9.00am on the day - certainly not when a fire front is approaching!

2. Gizmo fire pump/tanker trailer connected behind Gizmo.

3. Shelter in Resort Ruffy building, protected from radiant heat until fire front passes.

REVISION - 2022-06