Incident: Corop grass and scrub fire
District: 20
Date: 13 January 2012
Brigades: Elmore, Girgarre, Merrigum, Elmore, Hunter, Timmering, Stanhope, Rushworth, Toolleen, Goornong, Colbinabbin, Cooma, Corop, Corop West, Kyabram, Rochester, Tatura, Costerfield, Heathcote, Maiden Gully, Metcalfe, Strathfieldsaye, Woodvale, Echuca
“It was blowing very strong from the south,” said Incident Controller Graeme Wall. “Any wind on the Mt Camel Range makes the firefight more difficult. We pulled the fire up on Friday evening, organised an excavator to push more trees and crews from Waranga Group to extinguish them on Saturday morning.
“Most of the burning trees were down and the mop up almost over by Saturday noon, only for us to receive a page about a large fire quickly spreading in the nearby Toolleen brigade area.”
Toolleen truck was on scene at Corop along with a number of trucks that needed to divert to the new fire. Toolleen captain Bob Wilson initially attended before handing over to Graeme Wall as incident controller of this second fire.
“All the trucks were crewed up at Corop,” said Graeme. “Some were running low on water so they sorted that out and were able to leave for Toolleen and hit it pretty hard. Most of the trucks were a lot closer to the Toolleen fire on the Corop fireground than they would have been if they were in their home stations.
“Some trucks were diverted back to Corop from the Toolleen fire later on when fire got into some vineyards. The Rushworth slip on was called on to assist because it was able to get up and down the rows.
“Both fires ultimately ran into canola stubble which doesn’t burn as hard and fast as other stubbles. Conditions were similar for both fires and there were good saves at both. Corop got within 100 metres of houses and Toolleen got within 50 metres of two houses.”
Graeme is also captain of Rushworth brigade which has developed an excellent relationship with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
“DSE had crews at both fires,” he said. “Once we pulled up the fire, DSE crews looked after the trees. They just adapt to the grass and scrub fire conditions and it’s just good to know that they’re happy to work with us.
“I said, ‘Great save everyone’ on the Friday night and then said the same thing from the back of a ute on Saturday night. You don’t usually get to thank everyone but a lot of people helped things run smoothly both on the firefighting vehicles and at our control points.
“These were relatively large fires for our district – both about 200 hectares. We moved from District 22 to District 20 with boundary realignment and we just found that all the support we needed was there. We utilised air attack on both fires. They’re stationed in Bendigo so they were quickly on scene.
“We had a Shepparton DMO [District Mechanical Officer] on scene with Colbinabbin tanker two doing a radiator. Thanks to all the Loddon Mallee team who assisted on both the Friday and Saturday.
“Red Cross brought in 80 meals on Friday night and 180 on Saturday night so we could feed the police and DSE as well as our crews. There were also sandwiches and drinks provided by wives of local brigade members just to tide some over who had been on the go since early morning.
“I think most people were very happy with the way the job went so they’ll be willing to come back and help us the next time. That’s the great thing about CFA: members are willing to put their lives on hold to help those in need.”
So what does a busy incident controller do when the fires are out? He takes his wife for a Sunday drive … to view the fireground. “It gave Wendy an appreciation of what we were facing,” said Graeme. And who should he meet up with there but Corop Captain Darren Bloomfield … taking his wife Kylie and two children for a Sunday drive around the fireground.
Rochester Captain Mick Hassell attended the Corop fire and was also happy with the significant saves. “The thing that’s worrying is that the wind was from the south, fairly strong, but the temperature was OK and the humidity reasonable. Wait until the weather is from the north again and all the other factors are against us!”
Incident: Toolleen grass and scrub fire
District: 20
Date: 14 January 2012
Brigades: Bendigo, Elmore, Girgarre, Heathcote, Eppalock, Axedale, Goornong, Costerfield, Hunter, Kamarooka, Knowsley, Timmering, Mt Camel, Stanhope, Rushworth, Tooborac, Colbinabbin, Corop, Corop West, Axe Creek, Junortoun, Mosquito Creek
Photos from Mick Hassell
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