A column of smoke was showing as crews approached the area and Emerald Captain gave a "Grass & scrub fire not yet under control". A call for "Make tankers 4" went out and then an additional 2 were required. Crews were having access issues getting to the seat of the fire due to the thick growth of trees. Air support was then requested and Police began a Traffic Management Plan and started to secure roads in the area.
A Staging Area was organised at the Emerald Country Club Golf Course and Belgrave ICC worked with the Dandenong Ranges MCV which had set-up on Patons Road on a private property. Firebird 302 and Helitak 335 arrived and began water drops and were managed by the Air Support Supervisor at the MCV. Strike Teams 0842, 1334, 1354, 1374 rolled to the scene to assist ground crews.
A "Red Flag Warning" was sent as confirmation of the impending weather change to all crews on-scene. When the storm eventually hit, most vehicles had left the fire-ground and crews sheltered around the Control Point. Drenching rain, thunder and lightning hit the area and continued along causing lightning strikes throughout the nearby area and State Forests. The number of crews and trucks were reduced shortly after as DSE crews arrived along with a heavy dozer to work into the forested area.
A "Grass and scrub fire Stop" was finally placed on the call at 08:05 on Monday morning.
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