Mt Buller ready to fight fires - with snowmaking

It’s officially fire season and Mt Buller resort is preparing for summer with a smart, high-tech way to protect the mountain. Although Mt Buller is consistently a delicious 10 degrees cooler than the valley most days in summer, the threat of fire is a serious one in the alpine areas.

Mt Buller has more than 300 snowmaking guns positioned around the ski area, which Buller Ski Lifts can use to protect the resort, buildings, chairlifts, 300 hectares of ski area and precious alpine habitat in the case of a bushfire.

In addition to the snowguns, Buller Ski Lifts has placed permanent sprinklers on top of key infrastructure including buildings and lifts to protect these assets in the event of a fire threat.

The snowguns spray water under high pressure – which is used to make snow in the winter months – and in summer can work as a giant sprinkler system pumping water across the mountain to prevent the spread of fire.? On fire threat days the resort will charge the lines with water ready to defend the area, and ensure back up systems including generators are ready as loss of power is likely in the case of a major fire.

The snowguns can be turned on automatically from the pump control room or remotely using tablets, ensuring water can be pumped quickly and efficiently to where it’s needed, keeping people out of dangerous areas. The guns pump water from the Sun Valley snowmaking dam, which is full and ready if it is needed. The automation is a game changer for the resort to respond quickly to fire threat and to keep our people safer as they work to defend the mountain.

Mt Buller has been working closely with CFA and emergency services to train and prepare for summer fire threats. Mark Owens, Alpine Commander of CFA acknowledged the work of the resort, "BSL have done an amazing job preparing for summer and adapting their technology to reduce their fire risk. There are millions of dollars of assets up here and they've done a great job to be ready for fire season."

Buller Ski Lifts’ General Manager, Noel Landry explains, “This system allows us to pump around 1 megalitre of water each hour across the resort area if we are faced with the threat of a fire."

“We’ve worked closely with our suppliers and adapted the snowmaking system so it can do this important job for our community and the mountain each fire season, as well as delivering essential snow cover in our winter months."

“I’d like to acknowledge the great work of our snowmaking and mountain operations teams for preparing the mountain ahead of summer and being ready to defend our community and environment if the need arises. Mt Buller’s continual investment in snowmaking infrastructure, shared by BSL and Alpine Resorts Victoria, underpins viable resort operations year-round and is a priority for everyone in our community.”

Mt Buller’s ARV General Manager, Alan Arthur, said the snowmaking system also works to protect some of Mt Buller’s most endangered residents.

“In addition to protecting key buildings and infrastructure, the snowmaking guns will help the resort spread resources so we can protect critical habitat such as protected plants and our Mountain Pygmy-Possum colony,” he said.

This technology is something we hope the resort doesn't need to use this fire season, however the team is prepared and trained in the event of a fire threat.

When you visit the mountain for a cool escape this summer pay attention to the fire warnings and ensure you have the Vic Emergency App to ensure you are aware of fire dangers in the area.