Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council, Media Release, 16 November 2022
The Kowanyama Rangers were called to fight a large wildfire at the Oriners-Sefton property, located in the western Cape York Peninsula. The fire began in late October after a lightning storm rolled across the region around Paradise Creek and Sellars Creek, at the far-western side of Sefton.
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Fire and Carbon Operations expert Daryl Killin of Tropical Forest Tree Pty Ltd despatched a helicopter to investigate the firestorm.
Consisting of two fires on opposite sides of the property, the heat and wind had spread the small fires east and formed a 20km combined front.
“It was fastest-spreading fire I have seen on the Cape for almost three years,” Mr. Killin said.
Mr. Killin, who was already in the process of mobilising a response team, called upon the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council’s Rangers, who were already travelling to Oriners-Sefton on another task.
“The operation taught us that we need to increase our early burning even more and continue to invest in late dry season firefighting capacity.”
After five days of diligent work, the fires were successfully contained, with the Rangers extinguishing the northern fire, and the southern fire eventually being doused by rainfall.
Fighting fire with fire! Aerial incendiaries were used along a creek running north of Sefton, putting the northern fire out. 
Sand ridges like these were utilised by the crew to light smaller back-burning fires. This closed unburnt gaps and prevented the larger wildfire from burning more Country. 
Branches being used to douse the fire by Senior Ranger Darby Horace, Traditional Owner Clarita Yam (Wongi), Ranger and Traditional Owner Marcus Yam and Tropical Forest Tree’s Adrian Watt. 
Photos: Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
“The cooperation between the Rangers and Traditional Owners was critical to the success of this operation. Everybody was working as a team,” Mr. Killin said.
The Rangers learned a lot from this experience. Kunjen man Darby Horace, a recently promoted Senior Ranger, was able to build on his existing aerial incendiary knowledge.
“The helicopter training was a real eye opener for me, learning about which areas to burn and how to burn them to stop the fire from burning more Country,” he said.
“Aerial incendiaries were used along a creek running north of Sefton, which effectively contained and extinguished the northern fire.”
Long-serving Senior Ranger Fitzroy Lawrence commented that everyone has understood the importance of cooperation and security.
“Safety and communication came first. We began with a planning meeting and worked out when we had to act in accordance with the weather conditions.”
“The Rangers all worked as a team, using our cultural knowledge and knowledge of the land. Everyone stuck together and knew what their role was in tackling the blaze.”
Through the efforts of the Rangers, a significant area of Kowanyama’s Carbon Abatement Project was spared. Late-season fires can cost the Kowanyama Community hundreds of thousands in carbon credits. It is encouraging to see Kowanyama people gaining greater ability to protect the land through improved fire management.
