Pukaki Downs Fire IAP 0700 1800 31.08.20 Redacted.pdf

Incident Name
Operational Period
IAP COVER SHEET
Pukaki Downs Fire
RF199
Date 31/08/20
Time 0700 - 1800
INCIDENT ACTION PLAN
The items checked below are included in the incident Action Plan
SITUATION REPORT
INCIDENT OBJECTIVES
ORGANISATIONAL LIST
SECTOR ASSIGNMENT
AIR OPERATIONS PLAN
COMMUNICATION PLAN
SAFETY PLAN
MEDICAL PLAN
FIRE MAP
WEATHER FORECAST AND MAP
FIRE BEHAVIOUR FORECAST
Approved by Incident Control er: Signed
Date/Time
Name: Rob Hands under the Official Information Act 1982
Released

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SITUATION
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date 31/08/20
REPORT
Time 0700 - 1800
RF201
3. Location
4. Vegetation
5. NZ Topo50 Grid Ref.
SH80, Pukaki
Forest/Scrub/Grass/Slash
Ignition Point:

   1365083
   5111929
6. Assessment

Started 1125 in the vicinity of the Baikie Hut Track. Driven by strong Norwest winds through
tussock and wilding tree plantations. Total area of incident ground approx. 2,500ha within a
23km perimeter. Patchy areas within fire zone remaining unburnt.
1982

A wide range of fuel types within the existing fire perimeter have been consumed.
Act

There are 8 significant residential properties affected on the East side of SH80. Unfortunately,
we have lost one of those properties. Currently carrying out property protection on the
remaining properties, to be continued by nightshift.

7. Action taken
•  Aircraft – 2 fixed wing, 10 rotary buckets, plus air platforms.
Information
•  Heavy machinery working at 1900: one 20ton digger creating fire break.
•  Multiple ground crews operating on structure protection and evacuating properties.
•  Command Unit onsite from Timaru. Will be unmanned overnight.
•  Set up welfare with the affected residents to reassure them we are doing everything
possible to look after their properties.
Official
•  Two evacuations out of Aoraki Mt Cook 30/8/20: Approx 140ppl (60 cars) in first and 23
cars in the second.
the
•  Overnight crews working throughout the night for property protection.
•  An additional three tankers brought in to support overnight crew.
•  Evacuated al  affected properties.
•  Crews and IMT sourced for day time operations Monday 31 August. Commenced
planning for night 31 August.
under

8. Factors
•  Extreme fire behaviour occurring.
•  Power Grid Control Gate 18 threatened. This has the potential to have a significant effect
on supply of power to whole of South Island.
•  Weather (high NW winds) and topography.
Released
•  SH80 – link to Aoraki Mt Cook closed, SH8 closed at Tekapo and Omarama.
•  Prime assets – lavender farm and structures.
•  ? Stock in the area.
•  Significant areas within fire area remain unburnt.

9. Predicted Incident Development

Working to establish containment around 60% of the perimeter 31/8/20.

Multi day mop up and containment using helicopters, heavy machinery and ground crews.

Fire behaviour for Monday expected to be worse than Sunday, with a significant easement
from early Tuesday rain and potential y sub-zero temperatures.
10. Prepared by:

Date/Time 30/08/20 2200

1982

Act
Information
Official
the
under
Released

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
INCIDENT
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
OBJECTIVES
Time: 0700-1800
RF202
3. Overal  Incident Objectives
  1.  Protect life and property at all times.

2.  Contain the fire within its existing perimeter by 1800hrs 31/08/20.

3.  Protect environmental assets.

1982
4.  Protect structures, including the power grid Control Gate 18.

Act

4. Strategies for specified Operational Period
  1.  Infrared scan around the threatened properties and perimeter.

2.  Increase perimeter security around individual properties threatened by fire using heavy
Information
machinery and air to support ground crews.

3.  Allocate resources to sectors depending on overnight fire activity:
a.  12 crews
b.  17 helos
Official
c.  2 fixed wing
d.  5 20ton diggers
the
e.  7 appliances
f.  3 tankers

4.  Strengthen and extend existing containment lines.
under

5.  Establish contingency containment lines at northern extent of the fire line.

  Released
5.  Prepared by:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2220

1.  Incident Name
2.  Operational Period
ORGANISATION
Pukaki Downs Fire
ASSIGNMENT
Date: 31/08/2020
RF203
Time: 0700-1800
3. Incident Control                                                  Phone         Cell Phone Radio Ch
Incident Control er  Rob Hands

Deputy IC

Information Officer

Safety Advisor

1982
Safety Officer

Liaison Officer

Act


4. Agency Representative                                           Phone        Cel  Phone Radio Ch
Lead Agency  FENZ – Rob Hands

Agency  DOC –

Agency  MDC –

Information
Agency

5. Planning/Intel  Section
                                     Phone          Cell Phone     Radio Ch
Planning/Intell Manager

Plans

Official
Situations Unit

the

Resources Unit

Management Support Unit

under
Information Unit

Advance Planning Unit

Technical Specialists Unit



Released
6. Logistics Section
                                                           Phone     Cel  Phone Radio Ch
Logistics Manager

Supply Unit

Catering Unit

Facilities Unit

Finance Unit

Communications Unit

Medical Unit



7. Operations Section
                                                    Phone        Cel  Phone    Radio Ch
Operations Manager

Deputy Operations Manager

Division One Commander

1982
Sector A Supervisor

Sector B Supervisor

Act
Sector Y Supervisor

Sector Z Supervisor

Heavy Machinery

Air Division Commander

VHF
FIRE 4
Information
Air Attack Supervisor

VHF
FIRE 4
Air Attack Supervisor

VHF
FIRE 4
Official
Air Support Supervisor

VHF
FIRE 4
the






under
8.  Prepared by:

Date/Time 30/08/2020 2215

Released

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SECTOR
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
ASSIGNMENT
Time: 0700-1800
RF204
3. Sector
4. Description
5. Division Assigned
Alpha
Ground crews

6. Sector Supervisor
Affiliation
Phone
Radio Ch

VHF Fire1
7. Resources Assigned this period

Transport
Drop-off
Pickup
Resource/Crew
Leader
# Persons  Required
Point/time
Point/time
1982

Act

8. Sector Assignment / Special Instructions
Information

Monitoring and patrol.

Secure the perimeter.
Official

Aggressively suppress active fire near the perimeter where it is safe to do so, supported by heavy
machinery and aviation where practical.
the
under
9. Sector Communications
Phone
Radio Ch
Division/Division Cmdr

Air Attack Supervisor

  VHF FIRE 4
Safety Offi
Released cer







10. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2320

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SECTOR
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
ASSIGNMENT
Time: 0700-1800
RF204
3. Sector
4. Description
5. Division Assigned
Bravo
Ground crews

6. Sector Supervisor
Affiliation
Phone
Radio Ch

VHF FIRE 2
7. Resources Assigned this period

Transpor
Drop-off
Pickup
Resource/Crew
Leader
# Persons
t
Point/time
Point/time
Required
1982

Act

8. Sector Assignment / Special Instructions
Information

Work with aviation / heavy machinery to establish and strengthen containment.

Consider retardant line.
Official

Identify a contingency containment line.
the
under
9. Sector Communications
Phone
Radio Ch
Division/Division Cmdr

Air Attack Supervisor

  VHF FIRE 4
Released
Safety Officer







10. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2320

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SECTOR
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
ASSIGNMENT
Time: 0700-1800
RF204
3. Sector
4. Description
5. Division Assigned
Yankie
Ground crews

6. Sector Supervisor
Affiliation
Phone
Radio Ch

DOC 15
7. Resources Assigned this period

Transport
Drop-off
Pickup
Resource/Crew
Leader
# Persons  Required
Point/time
Point/time

1982

Act

8. Sector Assignment / Special Instructions

Information
Work with aviation / heavy machinery to strengthen the existing firebreak.

Establish a contingency firebreak with heavy machinery.

Official

the
under
9. Sector Communications
Phone
Radio Ch
Division/Division Cmdr

Air Attack Supervisor

  VHF FIRE 4
Safety Officer

Released





10. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2320

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SECTOR
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
ASSIGNMENT
Time: 0700-1800
RF204
3. Sector
4. Description
5. Division Assigned
Zulu
Ground crews

6. Sector Supervisor
Affiliation
Phone
Radio Ch

  VHF FIRE 3
7. Resources Assigned this period

Transport
Drop-off
Pickup
Resource/Crew
Leader
# Persons  Required
Point/time
Point/time

1982

Act

8. Sector Assignment / Special Instructions

Information
Structure protection.

Work with aviation / heavy machinery to strengthen the existing firebreaks.

Consider additional firebreak requirements.
Official

the
under
9. Sector Communications
Phone
Radio Ch
Division/Division Cmdr

Air Attack Supervisor

  VHF FIRE 4
Safety Officer

Released





10. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/8/20 2320

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SECTOR
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
ASSIGNMENT
Time: 0700-1800
RF204
3. Sector
4. Description
5. Division Assigned
Heavy Machinery
Heavy machinery to support ground resources

6. Sector Supervisor
Affiliation
Phone
Radio Ch

7. Resources Assigned this period

Transport
Drop-off
Pickup
Resource/Crew
Leader
# Persons  Required  Point/time
Point/time

1982

Act

8. Sector Assignment / Special Instructions

Information
Supervise heavy machinery operations across the entire fire ground. Work with Operations Manager
and Sector Supervisors to manage heavy machinery requests.
Official
the
under
9. Sector Communications
Phone
Radio Ch
Division/Division Cmdr

Air Attack Supervisor

Safety Officer

Released





10. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2320

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
AIR OPERATIONS
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/20
PLAN
Time: 0700-1800
RF208
3. Personnel and Communications
Position
Name
Affiliation
Phone
Radio Chan
Air Div Commander

VHF FIRE 4
Air Attack Supervisor

VHF FIRE 4
Air Support Supervisor

VHF FIRE 4
Lead Helicopter Pilot

1982
Lead Fixed-Wing Pilot

4. Air Resource Assignments
Act

Pilot Name/
Aircraft
Reg or

Tactical
Telephone
Company
Type
Call sign  Assignment
Freq/Chan
Numbers

Onboard:
Company:

Onboard:
Company:

Onboard:
Information  Company:

Onboard:
Company:

Onboard:
Company:

Official

Onboard:
Company:

Onboard:
the
Company:
5. Location of Fil ing Points/Service Areas
Name
Grid Reference

under

6. Safety Notes / Hazards / Radio Coverage Limitations
•  Powerline infrastructure
•  A ten metre high tower associated with a RAWS: 1366277.790E 5106630.360N
  Released
7. Taskings

Reconnaissance, Thermal scan, PRU Positioning, Property Protection

Prepare for retardant operations

8. Prepared By:

Date/Time

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
COMMUNICATIONS
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/2020
PLAN
Time: 0700-1800
RF205
3. Radio Channels
Assigned To
Function
Channel
Frequency
System

Sector A

VHF FIRE 1
143.8250

Sector B

VHF FIRE 2
143.7875

Sector Y

DOC 15
140.5500

1982
Sector Z

VHF FIRE 3
140.925

Command Repeater

VHF
143.2500/
ESB 180
Act
REPEATER 1
140.2500

Information
4. Telephone
Assigned To
Landline
Cel phone
Fax
Comments

Official

the

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Released

6. Other (e.g. email, Satphone, etc)

7. Prepared by:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2240

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period
SAFETY PLAN
Pukaki Downs Fire
Date: 31/08/2020
RF209
Time: 0700-1800
3. General Safety Points
Everyone is to be signed in and out of the fire ground through the Incident Control Point for both
safety check and payment records.
Maintain regular situation reports (containing all relevant information) via line supervisors.
LACES
Fire Orders
Watchouts
L - Lookout(s)
1.  conditions and forecasts
1.  Fire size is unknown (no size up).
2.  Know what your fire is doing at al
2.  Unfamiliar territory
A – Awareness
times.
3.  Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
1982
3.   Base all actions on current and expected  4.  Unfamiliar with weather and local factors
– Anchor Point(s)
fire behaviour of the fire.
influencing fire behaviour.
5.  No communications link with crew members
C – Communication(s)
4.  Identify escape routes and safety zones
or supervisor. Act
and make them known.
6.  Instructions and assignments not clear.
E – Escape Route(s)
5.  Post lookouts when there is possible
7.  Weather is getting hotter, drier and relative
danger.
humidity dropping
S – Safety Zone(s)
6.   Stay alert. Keep calm, Think clearly, act
8.  Wind increases and/or changes direction.
decisively.
9.  Getting frequent spot fires across the line
7.  Maintain prompt communication with
10.  Working uphil  or down wind of a fire
your crew/s, your supervisor and
11.  Working on a steep slope
adjoining crews.
12.  Working in rugged terrain
13.  Can’t see main fire
8.  Give clear instructions and ensure they
14.  In unburnt vegetation
are understood.
15.  Walking through hot ashes
Information
9.  Maintain control of your crew/s at all
16.  Working alone
times.
17.  Getting tired
10.   Fight fire aggressively having
18.  Working near power lines
provided for safety first.
19.  Working near machinery
20.  Working with aircraft
21.  Working around trees or spars

Official
4. Specific Safety Points

the
•  Extreme fire behaviour with winds gusting to 115km/h, starting N, turning NW.
•  Smokey conditions.
•  Dangerous trees – potential y unstable.
•  Uneven ground, variable topography.
under
•  Lavender oil stocks at Lavender Farm.
•  Confirm escape routes.
•  COVID-19: illnesses, contact tracing, vehicle cleaning. Safety measures (hygiene and physical
distancing), maintaining crew cohorts.
•  A ten metre high tower associated with a RAWS: 1366277.790E 5106630.360N

  Released

5. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2220

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period

MEDICAL
Date: 31/08/2020
Pukaki Downs Fire
PLAN
Time: 0700-1800
RF206
3. First Aid Station
Phone/Radio
Paramedics
Name
Location
Channel
available at Station

FCP
Lavender Farm,

None
SH80

1982

Act

4. Transportation
Address
Phone/Radio
Paramedics
Ambulance Service

Channel
available with Ambulance

Twizel Ambulance
Mackenzie Drive

First Response only
Aoraki Mt Cook Ambulance

First Response only

Information

5. Hospitals
Travel Time  Burn  Heli
Hospital Name
Address
Phone
Road  Air  Unit  Pad

Official
Timaru Hospital
Queen Street,
036872100
2hrs  40m  No
Yes
Timaru
the

under

6. Special Emergency Procedures

Any significant event, call 111 and ensure the Operations Manager and Deputy are informed

  Released

7. Prepared By:

Date/Time: 30/08/20 2220
8. Reviewed by Safety Advisor:
Date/Time

1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period

FIRE MAP
Date 31/8/20
Pukaki Downs Fire
Time 0700 - 1800

1982
Act
Information
Official
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1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period

WEATHER
Date 31/8/20
Pukaki Downs Fire
FORECAST
Time 0700 - 1800

31/08/2020: The northwest picks up steadily from early hours. Watch for break-through of strong winds from
around dawn (and esp. after sun gets up). Risk of mean speeds 60 to 75 km/h by mid-morning – and gusts
speeds 120 km/h. Temps rise into the mid-teens and RH falls into the high 30s/low 40s. Expect the strong
wind conditions to last into the night. Temp/RH conditions moderate from later pm/evening.

01/09/2020: Wind ease rapidly soon after midnight Mon and turn southerly (25 to 35 km/h for a time). Expect
rain from soon after midnight Mon., the turns to snow Tues morning. Risk of 5 to 10 cm accumulation.
1982

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1. Incident Name
2. Operational Period

FIRE
Date 31/8/20
Pukaki Downs Fire
BEHAVIOUR
Time 0700 - 1800
FORECAST

Weather/Fire Behaviour Forecast

Fire Behaviour Supplement

PREDICTION for Day 31/8/2020
Fire Name:
Pukaki Downs
Prediction For: 0600 - 1800
1982
Area:
Twizel
Time & Date Update Issued:   2300hrs 30th August 2020
Act
Prepared by:

Parameters:
–  The Pukaki Aero RAWS used for start-up values and observed values.
–  Grass curing input @85%
–  The three fuel types of Forest, Grass and Scrub assume Fire Danger Class standard f
Information  uel properties.
–  Wilding Pine likely to respond more as scrub fuel.

Weather Summary:
A northwest flow covers the South Island. From early Mon t
Official  he northwest flow gets very strong
ahead of a cold front. This front is due to reach the Canterbury region early Tues.

the

Weather Parameters:
Temperature   10° rising to 13°.
RH            54% lowering to 44%
under  .
Wind speed/direction. North to Northwest 45kph early morning rising to 63kph 1700 with max gusts
115kph
Rain
No rain

Fire Behaviour General:
Released

All fuels are expected to burn with severe intensity and extremely rapid rates of spread that will be beyond
standard direct attack methods. This is a serious hazard to fire fighter safety – refer to safety considerations.
Expect medium range spotting during periods of high to extreme fire behaviour.

While the wind direction is more from the north there will escape pressure on the western flank in sector
Alpha. When the wind direction is northwest the escape pressure will be on the south eastern end of the fire
in sectors Alpha and Zulu.

Scrub Fuel (includes wilding pine). Fuel load est 20 – 30 t/ha. Head fire intensity up to 45,000 KW/m and
rates of spread 4,500 m/h.

Grass Fuel.  Fuel load est 7t/ha at 85% curing. Head fire intensity up to 8,000 KW/m and rates of spread
4,500 m/h

Standard Forest. Fuel load est 20t/ha. Head fire intensity 2,000KW/m and rates of spread 1,200m/h.


Safety Considerations:

1)  With very high to extreme intensities and rapid fire spread crews must ensure they have identified
safety zones and scouted escape routes.
1982
2)  The strong and gusty north to northwest winds may topple trees or break limbs. Act
3)  Smoke is likely to stay low limiting visibility and making operations difficult
4)  Strong and very gusty winds may affect air operations throughout the day.
5)  Smoke may pose issues to road traffic.

Information
Forecast chart issued 1300hrs 30h August 2020
Official
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Released