THE GREAT MOGO FIRE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• First Call @ 1430
• Mogo RFS responded @ 1445
• Numerous Fires Burning
• Flame Height 5-6ft
• Hoses used for supression with no backburning

WEATHER DATA

• Temp 20.2 - 20.5
• Wind Gusting 28 - 30km/h in N/E direction
• RH at 62-67%
• Nil Rain

FIRE GROUND

• Burnt section of Dry Sclerophyll Forest
• Approximately 15m x 15m in size
• Located on SW side of bush track
• Downhill gradient with approximately 15 degrees of fall
• Large amount of stacked fuel load NE of fireground

FIRE GROUND

• Approx 25 trees with a mixture of smooth & rough bark
• 6 burnt cycads - Macrozamia communis (Burrawang)
• Vehicle tracks and walking tracks nearby
• North edge located at S35 46' 50.6" E150 08' 16.4"

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EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

• Fire ground seperated into two main areas
• Orientated vertically on the slope
• Two areas linked by two burnt bridges on N & E sides
• Unburnt island located between the two bridges
• Char height and pattern on trees in lower area over 2m in height

LOWER SECTION

• Numerous indicators located including:
• Stem Fall
• Soot Staining on rocks
• Unburnt fuel
• Char patterns on ground and elevated fuel

IMAGE WEST SHOWING FIREGROUND

IMAGE SOUTH EAST SHOWING INDICATORS LOCATED IN LOWER SECTION

IMAGE SHOWING CHAR PATTERNS ON TREE AND SOOT STAINING ROCKS

LOWER SECTION

• Majority of indicators were consistent with fire moving down slope
• This is consistent with the prevailing wind conditions
• Lower section excluded as area of origin

UPPER SECTION

UPPER SECTION

• Upper section examined and numerous indicators located including:
• Stem Fall
• Staining on rock faces and unburnt fuel
• char pattern on ground and standing fuels
• Burn Pattern and consumption of Cycads

IMAGE NORTH SHOWING INDICATORS IN UPPER SECTION

IMAGE WEST SHOWING INDICATORS IN UPPER SECTION

IMAGE SOUTH SHOWING INDICATORS IN UPPER SECTION

INDICATOR #3 - CHAR PATTERN ON LOG

INDICATOR #2 - STEM FALL AND CONSUMPTION ON CYCAD

INDICATOR #5 - CHARRING AND UNBURNT AREAS ON LOG

INDICATOR #6 - BURNT LOG

INDICATOR #1 - CHARRING ON LOG

IMAGE OF DEPRESSION

IMAGE OF FUEL LOAD LOCATED EAST OF FIRE GROUND

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EXCLUSIONS

• Natural - No recorded lightning activity
• Accidental - No authorised work or camping activity in the area

ORIGIN

• Majority of indicators consistant with fire starting near depression
• Depression has a large amount of fuel remnants
• Fuel load similar to stacked fuel nearby
• Colour of ash consistant with complete consumption
• NE side of depression protected from wind due to depth

PATH

• Majority of indictors show the fire has spread from depression
• Fire has travelled from uphill to downhill
• Fire has travelled with the prevailing wind
• Fire has moved across the two bridges into the lower section

CAUSE

• Area of origin not excavated due to ongoing training
• Accidental and natural excluded
• Negligent or deliberate cause cannot be excluded
• Cause is undetermined