[SEL] our hobby and fire ...in Australia and North America

[Jim and Diane]

Several things that are recommended in Southern California are, A clear fire 
proof area a 100 feet in dia. around buildings. A fire proof roof and 
enclosed eves.  Shrubbery around houses and buildings should be of the types 
that do not burn easily.  These are a few things.  Oddly enough swimming 
pools are almost never made so that the fire department can get at the 
water.  It would be a simple thing to run a pipe out to some accessible 
place when they are made.
Jim

Jim and Diane Kirkes
Hemet, CA , U.S.A.
jd.kirkes at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "peter ogborne" <jopeter at omninet.net.au>
To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 6:05 PM
Subject: [SEL] our hobby and fire ...in Australia and North America


You may have noticed that there has been a marked absence of postings from
members in the Eastern States of Australia . Many of these blokes live in
fire risk areas and would no doubt be busy looking after their properties
and in some cases are active in volunteer fire fighting teams.
I live in an area that could be at risk but due to a quirk in seasonal
conditions no hot weather has been experienced so far this summer. The fuel
is there so the risk is present.
Precautions .......I would be interested to hear what other members who are
at risk do.
In my case I rely on rain water storage and a submerged bore pump. I have
tank capacity of 30,000 gallons . This consists of two 12,000 gal tanks of
 rain water and a 6,000 gal tank that is topped up by rain water and
bore water.The bore water is OK but does have a Tannin content ,this
dissipates so can be used for drinking.
The house is protected by a deluge sprinkler system that I have installed.
This is fed by the 2.5 HP electric bore pump. This is OK whilst there is
mains power . But as in the case of a large bush fire the the power supply
is usually cut off.To overcome this i have installed a 4HP Rosebery
engine[ this is where the hobby cuts in] .The Rosebery drives a 2 inch
centrifugal pump piped into the deluge system and fed from a separate water
tank.I start the Rosebery with a 12 v starter motor ,battery on constant
trickle charge.
All this combined with a portable fire pump gives me some peace of mind and
I feel that I have done the best I can to combat a fire .
It would be interesting to hear what methods you in other parts do .
Peter Ogborne
Little Grove ,Albany
West Australia
''Heart of the Rainbow Coast ''
jopeter at omninet.net.au


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