Karom Thomasson is a 57 year old French artist who enlisted the services of the Victor Harbor CFS to create a 300 x 120 metre sculpture, by burning images onto dry grass on a hill near the Bluff at Victor Harbor. The project know as "Cosmosapien" can only be fully seen from the air. The sculpture depicts an image of the Third Millenium Child. The project required the use of satellite navigation to plot the huge image. The burning was conducted by the Victor Harbor CFS on 22/3/2002 as a exercise with a difference, requiring skilled control of the fire.

The burning was carried out by the CFS along lines established with A GPS and marked with coloured pegs.

CFS crew are seen here using drip torches (fire-lighters) which are normally used by the CFS to establish back-burns or control lines used to bring large wildfires under control.

CFS appliances were used to establish wet-lines to control the burn, as well as contain any outbreaks from the burn sculpture. Timing, accuracy and coordination were required between firelighters and those with branches (fire hoses).

In order to burn grass, you need grass to burn. Unfortunately some of the areas within the burn sculpture were almost bare earth with little dry grass. The solution - as devised by the Group Officer; instead of water in the knapsack, put some firelighting fuel in it and spray away. (where is the OH&S Officer?).
The Group Officer is seen in the above picture and he is not the one holding the knapsack or the one watching.

The burn sculpture was created on private land along the Encounter Bay coast, just west of the popular "Bluff" landmark, with parts of the sculpture able to be seen from the Bluff.

While parts of the image of the "Third Millenium Child" can by viewed from below, a birds-eye view is required to view the whole image. (West Island can be seen in the background to the south)

  
These two images show the CFS appliances and crew circled around the head of the image. The Image on the right shows the rugged coast line below and the city of Victor Harbor at the top of the picture (north).

The burn sculpture from a very high birds-eye view.
A very unusual service provided by volunteer members of the Victor Harbor CFS in a spirit of community in 2002.