Community
31 January, 2025
Owners express gratitude to CFA
THE heroics of Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers has been praised after more than 20 units rapidly brought a Weerite fire under control on Monday in the face of difficult conditions.
More than 20 units, including two helitrak helicopters, were called to Wiridgil Lane in Weerite on Monday after a grass fire had started at around 2pm.
Volunteers raced to the site of the blaze, and within an hour and a half had managed to get the 12-acre fire, which has been deemed non-suspicious, under control.
Monday had been declared a total fire ban due to hot and dry conditions with gusty winds, which, leading in to the day, had seen CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan acknowledge the conditions would make it difficult for firefighters to suppress fire should one start.
CFA commander Troy Mitchell praised the efforts of the Weerite responders, including the spotter whose vigilance guided the rapid response.
“They did an awesome job considering the conditions and where potentially it could have kept going, with wind changes and wind direction and the concern of thunderstorms in the area,” he said.
“The initial spotting was done from the Mount Porndon tower – we responded from there when other phone calls came in about a fire in the area.
“It was a really good effort from John Dunn, who mans our Mount Porndon fire tower – he spotted it and gave us direction to the fire.
“There’s no suspicious circumstances.”
Property owners Robert and Louise Manifold met with members of the attending CFA brigades on Wednesday to extend their gratitude for their efforts in fighting the fire.
They said the fire was brought under control by the “terrific cooperative effort” of the different brigades.
“We’re very lucky,” they said.
“It was a terrible day, and there are more bad days coming – this coming weekend, even.
“We would have lost all those trees and the fire would have spread a lot quicker without the helicopters.
“It was really good management by the CFA – it was amazing.”
Mr and Mrs Manifold said the property only suffered burnt grass and fences, with no livestock impacted by the fire.
The pair also extended their gratitude to those who used graders and off set discs to create fire breaks to help keep the fire from spreading further.
CFA Weerite brigade captain Phil Whitecross, who suffered minor burns while fighting the fire, said he was among the first vehicles to arrive on the scene.
“When we got there, it (the fire) was only around six-eight-foot square, and by the time we got the hose out it was already off, so we chased it,” he said.
“We were certainly thankful to see all those tankers come – they seemed to know where to go.
“They did a terrific job the way they rounded it up. They were in the right place at the right time.
“Having people ready to respond - the strike team in Camperdown, Chocolyn, and all the other brigades around who had people ready to go - I think that’s the big thing.
“If it had been another 10-15 minutes, it could have been a different story.”
Mr Mitchell said the efficient, effective response from local CFA volunteers to the grassfire exemplified the skill and dedication which helps to keep communities safe.
“It’s a public holiday, and the fact we can get 20 fire trucks out within half an hour to a fire is a fantastic effort,” he said.
“They give up their time and the work they do is just amazing – some of them had to leave and go milk their cows. They just don’t stop.
“We’d be in a heap of trouble if we didn’t have them - they’re just fantastic.
“It’s still early in the fire season – for us, the fire season goes for another couple of months.
“We’ve got warmer weather coming, and we’re going to keep demanding and asking for our volunteers to assist and help. They do a great job.”
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