On the afternoon of Saturday 7th February a spot fire broke out in Nilma southeast of Warragul. The current situation was that the Bunyip Ridge Fire had broken containment lines and was "spotting" heavily into the communities of Labertouche, Longwarry, Drouin, Drouin West, Jindivick, Neerim South and Rokeby. What nobody predicted was that embers would land on the southeast corner of Warragul / Nilma and ignite a fast moving grass fire. With the majority of the Tankers in the West Gippsland region currently in the Labertouche / Jindivick region, resources were stretched. Warragul pumper attended the scene but is not set up to attack rural type scenarios. A control point was quickly established as additional appliances arrived onscene, an aggressive firefighting attack was made in order to contain the fire given the present weather conditions and state situation. We congratulate all crews on a job well done with minimal loss to property and assets.

Incident Controller: Cpt Tandberg (Warragul)

Appliances: Warragul - Pumper, Tanker, Hazmat, Darnum Ellinbank - Tanker, Hallora - Tanker 1, Tanker 2, Trida - Tanker, Task Force - 2 Tankers, 2 Slip-Ons

Personnel: 60 approx

Size: 150 - 200 acres approx

During the past days, Victoria has experienced its worst fire weather ever.

Warragul Fire Brigade has been one of the many brigades in the region to respond to calls for assistance due to the Bunyip Ridge Fire, which started in the Bunyip State Park, and spread into the farmland areas of Labertouche, Longwarry North, Jindivick, Drouin West, and many other localities.

Early on Saturday, February 7, the fire broke containment lines and burnt more fiercely than many brigade members have experienced, and has destroyed over a dozen homes so far. So far, no lives have been lost due to the Bunyip Ridge Fire, and hopefully this remains the case.

Unfortunately, other areas of the state have not been so lucky. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the fire, who have lost loved ones & friends, those who have lost their homes and those who have lost property.

Due to the large number of incidents the brigade was paged to on the 7th and in the following days, the Incident Summary on our website has not been updated.  Once the fires have settled down, we will resume the Incident Summary of calls the brigade attends.

The brigade was called to support Yarragon at 1616 on the 30th Jan 2009 at a meter box fire, which had not been called in until after it had been extinguished. The brigade was cancelled prior to turnout.

At 2346 on the 29th Jan 2009 the brigade was called to a grass fire in King St Warragul.

A fuse had blown on a power pole and dropped onto the grass, igniting a fire.

Warragul and Drouin attended and extinguished the fire.

29/1 1942 DPI sensor outside lab, board was isolated, due to heat

At 1942 on 29 Jan 2009 the brigade was called to support Darnum/Ellinbank at an automatic alarm at DPI Ellinbank.

A sensor outside the lab had activated. Members entered wearing Breathing Apparatus and determined that there was no fire, but that the sensor had been activated due to the heat (+40C).

At 1851 on 29 Jan 2009 the brigade was called to support Nilma North at a transformer fire.

A transformer on a power pole had exploded due to the heat (+40C), and had spat oil over some grass and trees, sparking a small grass fire.

The fire had been extinguished prior to the brigade's arrival, but the transformer was still dripping hot oil onto the ground. The owner agreed to keep an eye on it until the power company could come and fix the transformer.

At 1814 on the 29th Jan 2009 the brigade was called to DPI Ellinbank.

A sensor had activated in a laboratory due to the heat.

Warragul provided some Breathing Apparatus operators, who went into the lab and determined the cause of the alarm.

The brigade supported Darnum/Ellinbank at an Alarm Operating, DPI Ellinbank at approx 1951 hrs.

An alarm had activated near the laboratory, and as a result Warragul provided Breathing Apparatus operators. They entered the building and ascertained that the alarm had been activated due to a fault, not due to a fire.

This was the second time Warragul had been called to this premises in one day.

The brigade supported Darnum/Ellinbank at an Alarm Operating, DPI Ellinbank at approx 1435 hrs.

An alarm had activated near the laboratory, and as a result Warragul provided Breathing Apparatus operators. They entered the building and ascertained that the alarm had been activated due to a fault, not due to a fire.