Firefighter Critical

Sun Herald

Sunday December 7, 1997

By LIZ HANNAN and DEBBIE NEILSON

A YOUNG volunteer firefighter was fighting for his life in hospital last night after being found face down in a creek while mopping up after devastating fires.

The NSW Rural Fires Service flew the 21-year-old Kirrawee man's parents from Canberra to be at his side in St George Hospital after the mystery accident at Menai.

A colleague found the Grays Point Bushfire Brigade member in 30cm of water in Still Creek, east of Alfords Point Road, at 11am.

There were no wounds on his body and police were unsure if the man stumbled and almost drowned or if a medical condition - such as a heart problem or seizure - caused his collapse.

The bushfire drama was a grim reminder of the 1983 tragedy which stunned the Grays Point community, near Sutherland in southern Sydney.

Three volunteers - brigade captain Keith Campbell, Thomas Bielecke and Gregory Moon - died and six others suffered burns in that inferno.

Westpac Lifesaver helicopter spokesman Bruce Tarrant said a medical crew, winched down to yesterday's victim, resuscitated him.

A road ambulance transported the gravely ill man to Menai High School where the Lifesaver helicopter had landed. He was flown to St George Hospital and placed on a life support system.

The Lifesaver helicopter became involved in another firefighting drama three hours later when it flew to the Hawkesbury region, north-west of Sydney, after reports that several firefighters were trapped by fire.

A Rural Fire Service spokeswoman said three firefighters suffered heat exhaustion while fighting a fire near St Albans at 2pm.

Lifesaver and a National Parks and Wildlife Service helicopter plucked the exhausted trio to safety. None required hospital treatment.

Sixty fires were still burning around NSW yesterday and the State remained on full alert, despite light rain.

The NSW Rural Fire Service said the statewide total fire ban was lifted at midnight but the possibility of lightning strikes associated with the thunderstorms forecast for many areas, threatened to exacerbate the situation.

In the Pilliga, near Coonabarabran, the State's biggest fire - which has destroyed more than 250,000ha of scrub - was still burning at Timmallallee Creek.

Coonabarabran fire controller Peter Brookhouse said the Pilliga area had only 7mm of rain yesterday and the forecast for today was not as favourable, with higher temperatures predicted.

Ironically, the light rain created problems for firefighters trying to re-ignite containment lines.

Authorities also were worried about the westerly wind, which blew up in the early morning.

Fires were burning in State forests at Inverell while at Lithgow several outbreaks - including those at Bungleboori and Scotsmans Hill - were causing concern.

In the Hawkesbury region, fires in rugged scrub presented no immediate danger, the fire service said. The Sackville ferry was not running.

Fires in the Hunter region covered more than 44,000ha within the Great Lakes, Muswellbrook and Singleton areas.

There also were several fires in the Shoal-haven region.

With the conditions improving, 400 Victorian firefighters flew home on a specially chartered Qantas jumbo while another 70 headed south by road.

Over the past nine days 12 fires have raged through 15 local government areas, destroying 400,000ha of bush. Two firefighters were killed at Lithgow. Their funerals are expected to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Ten homes were destroyed at Menai, in Sydney's south. In January 1994, 30 fires destroyed 800,000ha in more than 40 local government areas over two weeks.

BUSHFIRE UPDATE

PILLIGA:

State's largest fire still buring at Timmallallee Creek. No danger to private property

INVERELL:

Fires in State Forests near the town

HUNTER REGION:

A number of fires in remote areas including Bow River near Merriwa. No threat to residents

HAWKESBURY:

A number of small fires in remote areas. No danger

METROPOLITAN REGION:

No fires presenting immediate danger. Spot fires in Sutherland Shire

SHOALHAVEN: