Suit initiative welcomed

The packs were handed out to more than 200 farmers in the Pinery fire zone and surrounding districts on Friday.

The suit includes a two-piece, high visibility light green coat and pants, with the pack designed to fit behind the seats or in storage areas of vehicles used by farmers to fight fires.

The pack was produced to equip farmers with readily available personal protective equipment that, in the event of a fire, offered the same protection as suits worn by CFS crews. The green hue is designed to make the farmers’ suits easily distinguishable from official emergency services crews.  

The packs are also available for purchase.

The idea came about in response to the Pinery and Nantawarra fires in November 2015 and October 2014, respectively.

The Pinery fire claimed two lives, burning 82,500 hectares of land and destroying 91 houses and 271 farm buildings, according to the CFS.

Numerous farmers received burns as they tried to combat the fires.

A year earlier, one person died and 1400ha of land was burnt in the Nantawarra fire.

The firefighting suit pack idea was instigated by Clinton Tiller – whose uncle Allan Tiller died in the fire – along with Mark Heaslip from Gilmac and Elders agronomist Michael Brougham.

A total of $50,000 was raised for the suits to be made, with funding from local businesses including Gilmac, Balco Australia, JT Johnsons & Sons and Casella Family Brands, as well as from the Pinery Fire Funds delivered to Grainflow sites.

Support in the project’s planning was given by local agricultural bureaus.

Farmer Michael Day, Salter Springs, lost 240 hectares in the Pinery fire. He received burns to 55 per cent of his body, of which a quarter received third degree burns. 

Mr Day spent a month in hospital and rested for three weeks after that.

“Had I had that suit, it may have only burnt my eyes,” he said. “People should be purchasing them for themselves.”