Shady Creek fire - 19 Sept 2011
On Monday afternoon a private timber contractor was burning off some small piles of timber in a Hardwood Plantation and picking out the good pieces for firewood using an excavator.
It was all under control until some burning pieces caught the excavator alight and at 2:10pm a call was made to triple 000 reporting a fire at the end of Webbs Road, Shady Creek in West Gippsland.
It was difficult for CFA crews to reach the fire, the tracks were narrow and uneven. Upon arrival CFA crews found the contractors trying to extinguish a fully involved excavator fire and small spot fires burning in bushland.
The fire proved a real challenge for crews as water was located 2.5 km’s away down a 4wd track, therefore requiring extra Tankers to relay water to the fire and to fill the tankers at the water source.
Warragul Brigade Firefighter, Steve Venville said, “the fire was a great learning experience for local brigades especially as we are leading up to summer, and a good use of resources in the District.”
By about 4pm it was declared ‘Under Control’ followed by a ‘Stop’ message and crews worked on blacking out the wood piles into the evening.
Written by Louise Haughton
Article copied from CFA Connect (www.cfaconnect.net.au)
- Log in to post comments