Anyone catching even a passing glimpse of the news over the past week would know the scale of these current bushfires. Described as the most destructive in decades, it seems much of the New South Wales population is somehow connected and affected. We are all alert to this serious situation, whether living in a township directly under threat, having family or friends in such circumstances, or being in the city with the overhead smoke providing a constant reminder of the devastation being experienced elsewhere.
On Thursday 17 October, Industrial Printing Company, nestled within the Lithgow valley and surrounded by the very mountains currently ablaze, saw first-hand the potential threat posed to business, buildings and the livelihood of staff.
[Photos: Fire shots from Industrial Printing]
While we were not in a direct path of the fire, the view of the burning mountains perfectly illustrated its destructive power. 'Business as usual' stopped as bushfire warning reports filtered through by SMS. Local information about area evacuations and imminent road closures meant staff began to leave in order protect homes under possible threat.
Industrial Printing's chief financial officer, Trevor Clark, visited his mother's home to see if everything was alright. He then phoned the company in mid-morning requesting urgent assistance to keep an approaching grass fire at bay. General manager Steve Scott, web foreman Anthony Kendall and maintenance manager James South went to help. The ensuing efforts literally saved the property from certain destruction. A business directly opposite was not quite as fortunate, being gutted by the fire in what appeared to be the result of floating embers taking hold.
Meanwhile, web production manager Brett Jenkins began driving around town, inspecting the homes of staff who were unable to check themselves, and readying himself to assist if necessary. Back at base, sheetfed production manager Graham Purnell ensured calm heads prevailed. The fire hoses were brought out to saturate our chemical shed and sheetfed building, which would have been the most likely target. Thankfully, these were no more than sensible precautions; at no stage were we in danger. The spirit of our workplace and community was beyond question that day as selfless acts of courage and concern were displayed.
[Photos: Behind-the-scenes at Industrial Printing]
Production became next to impossible due to staff leaving, roads being closed, the power going out, the internet being lost and the uncertainty about what machinery needed to be shut down. Our Komori aqueous unit was powered down in readiness for possible evacuation, and plans were made for data servers and system back-ups to be gathered.
The business owners, David and Joy Scott, actually live on the grounds, so it wasn't simply a matter of saving Industrial Printing if the situation deteriorated. There was also concern about their possessions and lifetime collections of family history.
That afternoon, and over the coming days, we received many emails and phone calls from clients and friends asking about our welfare. It’s a testament to the strength of our business relationships we have built over time. Even simple messages of support were welcomed. We value our clients and it’s wonderful to know they value us in kind.
Of course, messages of support don’t stop the clock ticking on deadlines, regardless of the circumstances. While there was general understanding about our inability to handle all delivery obligations, quotation requests and general enquiries, our predicament wasn't met with unconditional acceptance. Understandably, clients still needed jobs to continue as normal. Some minor hiccups aside, we were largely able to recover from the day's lost production and delivery issues, and thankfully we have been spared any repeat drama on the same scale.
One Industrial Printing staffer endured an emotional rollercoaster last week. He wasn't allowed back to his recently built home in the upper Blue Mountains during the worst of the blaze. On Friday morning, he learned that his place had survived, but six homes around his own were burned to the ground. His lucky escape was due to stringent fire-proofing methods that were used when his home was built. His feelings of fear were then replaced by sympathy for those who had lost everything.
In reply to all those who have expressed concern, we are fine, thank you. Your thoughts are appreciated. Industrial Printing also wishes to pass on our thoughts and prayers to those businesses and individuals among the printing industry and the wider community facing uncertainty due to these fires.
[Related: More Industry Insider columns]
Andrew Durnford is a sales & marketing executive at Industrial Printing Company
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