bushfires near Darwin

Good morning all.

I’ve previously written on the danger of bush/grass fires in the Top End. This year gamba grass-fuelled fires haven’t been the only problem. Temperatures have been up to nearly five degrees above the long term maximum and forest without this weed are going up in flames.

Gamba-fuelled fires move fast. There was a grassfire one property south of us three weeks ago. It started while we were out with friends having lunch at Berry Springs. There was no sign of a fire when we left home. An hour later there was a large plume of black smoke . Our firefighters were already on the job as we returned home. This was only an hour or so after we left. All that’s left are trees scorched up to the canopy.

This fire was deliberately lit, and according to the firies the arsonist tried to light this blaze previously and in the middle of the night. I hate to think what would have happened had it taken. The south of our property, including our second dwelling with our two sleeping friends, Pete Colston and Mike Blair, might well have gone up in flames.

Just before this fire there was another on our road, also lit by an arsonist. Both of the properties that burnt had loads of gamba grass present. I suspect such land is targeted because these fires burn so quickly and spectacularly. So again I repeat my warning to birders. Stay away from areas of gamba grass.

Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
PO Box 71
Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841
043 8650 835