The equipment at these depots included Fire Carts, beaters, rakes & axes. Horses for the fire carts were supplied by various Rural Lessees.
The Chief Fire Controller was Mr W. R. Jacobs.
The following lessees have been appointed fire controllers in their respective districts: J. Edlington (Tuggeranong) ; T. Cargill (Yarralumla); D. Tully (Stromlo): A. N. Shepherd (Weetangera); E Bondfield and M. Cavanagh (Ginninderra); E. Shumack (Ainslie); .J. Mayo (Majura); D. Murray (Mill Flat); H. C. A. Reid (Tidbinbilla).The first fire for the season was near Duntroon on 1 December 1927 and burnt out around 40 acres of grassland.
"The pine forests which densely cover Mt. Stromlo narrowly escaped destruction on Sunday, when a bush fire, which had destroyed about 50 acres of scrub, was arrested as it burnt its way across the narrow break adjoining the forests. It was the nearest approach to disaster encountered on Mt Stromlo. But for the prompt response of the Canberra Fire Brigade to an urgent call from the solar observatory, the fire would have reached the timber, once amongst the pines the fire could not have been checked until it had completely destroyed the forest.
The call for assistance was received by the Brigade shortly before noon. Chief Fire Officer P. F. Douglas and six men set out immediately and upon arrival, found the fire had almost reached the fire-break separating the scrub from the pine forests. Fortunately an abundant supply of water was to hand in the reservoir on the summit of Mt. Stromlo. With 1560 feet of hose out, and the pumping apparatus in action, the brigade succecded in checking the flames as they crept slowly across the "break," which at no part was more than 30ft. wide.
At one period it was thought that nothing could prevent the fire from entering the forest, and an urgent call for volunteers to assist was telephoned through to brigade headquarters. No volunteers could be found, however, but shortly afterwards the fire fighters definitely had the fire under control. The brigade was assisted by several forest rangers, and remained on the scene until 4 p.m., when forestry officers of the Commission undertook the task of stamping out the remnants of the fire.
Several other outbreaks occurred in the Territory during Sunday and yesterday. Whilst the brigade was engaged in combating the fire on Mt. Stromlo, two small fires were seen to spring up in the scrub about 11 miles away. Throughout Sunday and yesterday a fire also burned steadily on a hill near the Cotter River. It was clearly visible from many points in the city area, whilst beyond it gleamed the snow-capped summit of Mt. Gingera"
| Rainfall: | |
|---|---|
| July 1927 | 96 points |
| August | 170 points |
| September | 182 points |
| October | 221 points |
| November | 401 points |
| December | 350 points |
| January 1928 | 117 points |
| February | 349 points |
| March | 384 points |
| April | 222 points |
| May | 76 points |
| June | 91 points |
100 points = 1 inch
Sources:
Bush Fire Control Organisation Files
'The Canberra Times' various issues 1927/28