> I'm probably stating the obvious, but any human stuff is definitely flammable.
It is also very dry.
> What do they do for heat anyway?
Waste heat from the diesel gensets providing our electricity, supplemented by additional diesel burners.
> big logistic challenge away from any ports
It is, we (Davis station) have storage for about a year and a half worth of fuel, and refuel via icebreaker bunkerage once a year.
> Anyway, I'd imagine they mainly get oil/gas fires or electrical fires, for which it'd be better to use foam or whatever is best for electrical. If they use water, they'd keep the hoses dry and warm and use a de-icer like glycol.
We use dry chemical extinguishers as a first response. Most buildings have sprinklers and sensitive areas have hi-fog. We have a Hagglund (tracked vehicle) with a water tank and pump and can hook up to the ring main at hydrants around station.
Unlike McMurdo we don't have dedicated fire-fighters so we all got a week of firefighting training before departure and a third of the station is on call at any time as the emergency response team.
We have CO2 extinguishers near server rooms and switchboards and I believe some of the electrical infrastructure does use gaseous suppression.
But yes, if a fire alarm occurs: the entire station gathers at the muster point while the on call ERT goes to the fire cold porch and the emergency vehicle shelter. From there the on duty team lead and an electrician don fire turnout gear and take dry chem fire extinguishers to the site of the alarm, the first BA team don their breathing apparatus and follow the instructions of the team lead and the second BA team prepares the firefighting Hagglund for deployment.
> Do you know of any notable fire events at your station?
Not at my station, Davis. Mawson has had a few historically but I think the program overall has avoided any fires that threatened life or property for a few decades.
There was a fire in the engine room of the icebreaker MPV Everest that retrieved the Davis crew a few years ago and the ERT from the station assisted in firefighting.
> Are you accessing this site via satellite from there?
Yes, there are no fibre cables to Antarctica. We have a connection provided by the government using multiple satellite links as backhaul (ANARESAT, some alternate geostationary satellite and soon Starlink) plus one of the expeditioners* has a personal Starlink that we contribute to and utilise communally.
* unlike other Antarctic programs, Australia has decided to stick with the 'expeditioner' title from the olden days of exploration.
I happen to be in Antarctica right now employed by the Australian program that you linked to.
> There's perks, bonuses etc on top of that.
No, the 150,000-170,000 pay range for most of us (everyone but the station leader and doctor) is inclusive of all our allowances. There are a few extra duties like deputy station leader and fire chief that get an additional allowance.
> I wonder if they pay for their own room and board or if that's one of the perks; given they have a cook I suspect they have communal food at least.
All food and accomodation (and utilities, internet, phone calls, recreational equipment and trips, cold weather survival clothing) is provided to us. I have essentially zero expenses.
This is both incredibly cool and also somehow such a HN moment. Of course there's someone here who's currently stationed in Antarctica.
Out of curiosity, since I've always had the idea of visiting one day, what do you reckon is the most feasible way to do so, short of stationing there for a living like you are?
Well this is my fourth time down so my recommendation is to figure out how to work down here - it is by far the most cost effective way to experience it!
I don't have much familiarity with the tourism side. The majority of tourist will go via cruises out of Ushuaia to the Antarctic peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. The advice I've always heard is to go with the smallest ship you can as there are IAATO regulations on how many passengers can go ashore per ship per day and you want to maximise opportunities to get ashore. Price can vary a lot depending on cabin, quality of the operator and last minute deals to fill berths.
If you have a lot of money (>100k USD) burning a hole in your pocket then there are high-end tourist camps run by groups like Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions and White Desert that will fly you to the continent and then around to penguin rookeries, mountain climbing and the South Pole.
It is also very dry.
> What do they do for heat anyway?
Waste heat from the diesel gensets providing our electricity, supplemented by additional diesel burners.
> big logistic challenge away from any ports
It is, we (Davis station) have storage for about a year and a half worth of fuel, and refuel via icebreaker bunkerage once a year.
> Anyway, I'd imagine they mainly get oil/gas fires or electrical fires, for which it'd be better to use foam or whatever is best for electrical. If they use water, they'd keep the hoses dry and warm and use a de-icer like glycol.
We use dry chemical extinguishers as a first response. Most buildings have sprinklers and sensitive areas have hi-fog. We have a Hagglund (tracked vehicle) with a water tank and pump and can hook up to the ring main at hydrants around station.
Unlike McMurdo we don't have dedicated fire-fighters so we all got a week of firefighting training before departure and a third of the station is on call at any time as the emergency response team.
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