In South Australia a Mt. Templeton Country Fire Service volunteer firefighter, Andrew Harrison, 38, was fighting a fire when he suffered severe burns. He was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in critical condition with severe burns to much of his body and later died.
There are reports that the fire originated from a lentil harvesting operation. CFS chief officer Greg Nettleton said there had been a spate of fires involving lentil harvesting over the past year.
“We will be speaking to the farmer representative bodies to sit down and say how can we work in partnership to reduce the potential for fire during farming operations whatever they may be,’’ he said.
Research by Queensland academic Graeme Quick for Grain Producers SA earlier this year found lentil dust had a lower ignition point than other grain residue.
Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Mr. Harrison.
Jim – it’s important to note that most of the bushfire fighters in AUS are volunteers. The only costs to the citizens/taxpayers are for equipment, training and a small number of full-timers who manage the whole operation. If the Aussie States had to pay their Volunteers at the going rate that some US States pay their folks, it would be more cost effective to let the fires burn and the structures go. Both the US and AUS are having a hard time recruiting and retaining Volunteers, especially for fires during daytime hours. Complex issues, no easy answers!
While reading the adelaidenow.com.au article on the death of the firefighter, I noted this related article.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/climate-council-report-says-firefighter-numbers-must-double-by-2030-to-cope-with-states-increasing-bushfire-risk/story-fni6uo1m-1227110137759
The same reasons for doubling wildland firefighters in Australia are just as true in the US.