By Oscar Parry
With the region “escaping a bullet” when the December bushfire was contained, the Bullengarook CFA is urging residents to continue with bushfire preparation and to avoid the affected area.
While burning through about 355 acres of bushland in the Wombat State Forest and sections of private property, Bullengarook CFA captain Simon Hayward said the town is “very fortunate” that the fire was contained with no assets lost.
“With the way it started, [and] the way the wind was going, the crews obviously did an amazing job on that Friday night into Saturday to control it. We were quite worried for Boxing Day, because up until that point, the winds were obviously blowing from the south, so they were pushing the fire up into the bush … away from property and people,” Mr Hayward said.
“The concern was that on Boxing Day when the winds are coming from the north … if it were to blow back onto itself and jump, it could be a pretty horrible outcome.
“If it blew back and jumped [the] creek, there would have been properties lost without question.”
Mr Hayward said the fire was first reported to the CFA about 4.15pm on Friday, December 20, starting near the Bullengarook slate mine quarry in the Wombat State Forest, with the cause of the fire still unknown.
He said in a worst case scenario, the fire could have burnt through Bullengarook down to Toolern Vale and towards Sunbury, fuelled by grasslands – which can greatly accelerate a bushfire.
The hard work of over 100 volunteer firefighters from several brigades, Forest Fire Management firefighters and CFA water bomber pilots led to Forest Fire Management able to declare the fire under control and begin to wind back CFA support on Christmas Eve.
To contain the fire, Forest Fire Management crew members bulldozed an earth break around the perimeter of the forest, allowing CFA fire trucks to access the site and put out spot fires as they ignited.
With the steep and treacherous terrain in parts of the forest, bulldozing a perimeter was no easy task, taking about three days and multiple attempts to achieve.
Many CFA volunteers, including from the Bullengarook brigade, worked through the night and sacrificed their Christmas Day to battle the fire or provide food and aid to crew members battling the blaze.
Bullengarook CFA 1st lieutenant Matthew Hunter said there was a strong sense of camaraderie with other brigades, including those from over 100 kilometers away.
“You get the feeling that it’s … ‘my neighbour’s in trouble’ … it’s the same as if we got asked to go to The Grampians straight after this, we’re prepared to go. If they weren’t occupied down there, they would have had crews up here,” Mr Hunter said.
The CFA partnered with Macedon Ranges council and Victoria Police to offer three free community information sessions at Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School’s Bullengarook Campus.
Mr Hunter said he has “never seen so many people turn out to a community event” as the first information session.
He said a large amount of food and supplies were dropped to the Bullengarook station’s door during and after the emergency from community members, businesses, and anonymous donors from across Melbourne.
In the wake of the bushfire, Mr Hayward urged residents to attend local CFA safety sessions, download and set up alerts within the VicEmergency app, and visit the CFA website to find information around bushfire preparedness and how to create a bushfire plan.
He also urged residents and visitors to avoid the affected area, as it is currently full of hazards due to the fire and the extinguishing efforts – including hanging branches, falling trees, and unstable ground.
