BLACK SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2009
This is not a report on the massive fires that hit Victoria on the 7th February 2009, more a description of how this day affected me.
A few friends have asked me what that day was like for me. I cannot and do not have the ability to discribe that day. That has been handled by the media and done quite well. I have gone out of my way to not intrude on destroyed homes or the devastation, or any people or their thoughts other than myself, but just included some photos around the start area and the township of Wandong. These photos do in no way show the devastation inflicted on Victoria on that Black Saturday
At around 10 am on the 7th February 2009 about three K's east of my home a bushfire started ! Its unknown what caused it at this time. The temperature on that day was 47 degrees, the hottest day ever experienced in Victoria. This was fanned by a high north wind which always spells trouble in our summers. The wind speed was between 80 and 120 K's per hour depending where you were. Because of the heat we were inside with two air conditioners and two large fans running which kept out home quite comfortable. My first hint of trouble came when the radio reported the fire at East Kilmore, which is our railway station to the east of town about 2 K's away. I looked out my window in my computer room where I was working and could see the range of hills to my north about 10 K's away, quite clearly.
I again looked out about fifteen minutes later and the visibility was down to about 1000 yards. Police and fire trucks were running past my home heading towards East Kilmore. I could tell by the amount attending that they were coming from other areas as we only have four in our station. Another fifteen minutes and I went down to my rear fence and could not see the main street area about two blocks away. I was now logged onto the ABC radio running it in the background on my computer. I run two screens on my computer setup and had the CFA (Country Fire Authority) website on one, and the Google map of the area on the other. The ABC were wonderful with their coverage and I noticed that there were 30 trucks attending. This number kept rising steadily until they had 115 trucks, which came from every area, many from hundreds of miles away. This was the biggest deployment of fire trucks to any one fire over that period.
The fire had started more or less level with my home and with the North wind blowing it was heading South East away from our home and I considered we would be safe at the moment. It was forecast that the wind would later change to south west, which would blow it back more or less over the burnt area, I imagined. Then a report that the main fire was heading towards the township of Wallan, fifteen minutes south of Kilmore. If a South East wind came up from there, it would impact on Kilmore, and my weather board cottage, build in 1850, would be a high fire risk. The time was now 1 pm.
The time came to decide what we would take if we had to leave. Naturally both cars. My wife had sewing machines and embroidery machines, four in all valued at about $12000. As they were portable and would all fit on the back seat they were elected to be saved. Then my computer and also Val's, mainly because of the information on them and the fact that they could also be loaded quickly and were small items. As we had 4 flat screen monitors they were also selected. All told about $17000 onto the back seat area of my car. We have a fire proof box with our bank and household paperwork and a mobile phone each with chargers both 240 volt and 12 volt car chargers. My two brief cases and a box of my medications, enough for a month. My wallet and Val's handbag. All were stacked in the front hall, with the dog dish, tin of food and a sealed bottle of water and the dog. We were ready with stage one, should we have to leave we could load it all inside ten minutes.
There was still room in Val's car and I started to look around for some more items to take. This was very heart breaking as when I picked something I could see something that was more important. In the long run I could not make a decision and so that was it. I know I could have filled Val's car a dozen times and still would have to leave items I would regret. I then sat there all afternoon watching and listening to the fire reports. I have read where many people (usually from the city) that say just go and leave everything, your life is worth more that house items. I have to say here, if you have not experienced it you really cannot comment. The people that died trying to save their homes and a lifetime of personal items that can never be replaced, more or less reinforces this.
At 5.50 pm the power went off and within 5 minutes I had, due to my health, been reduced to a bit of a wreck. I said to Val," if we do not leave now I doubt I will be able to drive." We were packed and away by 6,05 and with all windows down and a max speed of 80 K's we traveled to Thornbury in Melbourne where we stayed at our daughters home for the night. As I got out of the car the radio said that the power was back on at Kilmore. But I know I could not have lasted there for an hour in those conditions. We returned the next morning with everything safe and sound. It was not an experience I wish to go through again, quite heart breaking!
I went out today - Wednesday, four days later when I would not be in anyones way, and took a few photos. I saw some stumps still burning beside the road, they will burn for weeks!
The fire started up here in this area, and you can see a fire break that had been put in, that allowed the fire to be contained . This was at a later period after the main fire had gone through above the hill.
This is Sunday Creek road and the fire had been stopped on the right hand side
Fences have gone the light grey area is ash about 6 inches deep
Here the small poles survived but the larger post burnt out.
The trees caught fire and started to burn through at the bottom, they either fell or were dangerous and had to be dropped and cut up to clear the road.
The tree in the center of the photo was really large as you can see by the grey ash around the base
To the left of the gate you can see where another fire break has stopped the fire from spreading.
Another fire break runs across this photo again it halted the fire.
These are mopping up efforts, these fire breaks do not stop the main fire.
Only the fireplace left standing
Another heartbreak -- note the fence has been repaired, this is the wednesday after the fire!
Mount Disapointment / East Kilmore fire at night
Our laws as I understand it, is that fallen timber can be cleared to the road edge for safety, but no further. You cannot pick up or remove timber beside the road !
Nothing much left, fences gone, the trees may come back, heart breaking.
This area is a road from the Kilmore East railway station to Wandong on the Hume Freeway. Above is a pine plantation where again a fire break has brought a halt to the fire spreading.
This is the area to the left of the fire break
Part of the pine plantation, the railway line stopped the fire spreading .
All burnt up to the rail line.
Destroyed pine plantation
Fire jumped the first rail line.
Replacing burnt sleepers
This section was burnt from the fire that jumped the freeway and was stopped at the rail line. Another section was coming from the left, from the pine plantations
These three burnt sections were from ember attacks from the main fire.
Kilmore East with the fire approaching
This and the shot above were just after the fire started
Two story brick house burnt out -- in the built up section in the town. I did not drive around the 200 houses burnt down, in respect for the suffering of the people concerned, but took these photos a week later as I drove through the township when it had been opened up to the general public for travel. This is one of three brick houses on the main road that were burnt down.
Another brick house burnt out
How close -- lucky--can you get
Another brick house destroyed --some weather board and hardiplank homes survived as can be seen below
Weatherboard and burnt all around but no damage to the house!
Another weatherboard --an amazing escape no damage at all
The Wandong medical clinic again weatherboard and no damage but burnt all around the building.
More damaged trees -- they must stay where they drop something about insects and grubs to live naturally??
A scrap metal business just about everything was steel!!!
Another shot of the scrap metal property
Scrap metal yard - this guy had to be very unlucky, but at least he survived.
Entering Wandong from the Melbourne side The fire here has jumped the rail line and the road burning about three hundred yards up to the Hume Freeway where it was stopped . Again this was more likely to be ember attack in front of the fire. This is on the left hand side as you enter Wandong. The house in the background is weatherboard!!
Entering Wandong
Still on the left hand side this unit was not damaged at all.
This timber surround was destroyed
Looking across the road towards the right hand side towards the rail line
This section managed to jump the rail lines but was stopped at the road. I would say this was started by spot fires in front of the main fire.
Below are some photos sent to me of the Kinglake fire
Below are some more shots of the many fires burning that day
BENDIGO
BENDIGO 2
DIXON CREEK / YARRA GLEN
DROUIN WEST
Horsham Golf Club
Kinglake
Kinglake 2
Kinglake 3
Kinglake - Toolangi
Narre Warren grass fire
Narre Warren Nth
Narre Warren Sth.
Sth Gippsland
This photo was taken from the top of the Doncaster shopping center -- showing how wide the fire front on that fire was!
The fires are still going today, March the third, at Kilmore we are still hemmed in by smoke. The heat is not as bad as forcasted but the north wind is pretty bad. Its expected to be 140 k's per hour I have a range of hills about 10 K's away and a line of trees about two K's away and the main street which is two blocks away. Both my 10 and 2 k's areas cannot be seen. But while this is smoke coming from about 100 K's away but its still the fire that started here on Feb 7th. So we sit and wait.
I am amazed at the coverage the fires are getting worldwide. Below are some photos from the local newspaper at Boston Mass. USA. I would normally just paste a shortcut to this site, but feel that it will go as the news report becomes old news. So I have copied it below.
