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The sky turned into darkness on the afternoon of Friday, 30 January when the fire came down through the mountain ranges into the township of Boolarra.
As several buildings were engulfed in fire, dark plumes of smoke filled the air in the already choking atmosphere, accompanied by dull explosions from burning cars and gas bottles.
CFA strike teams moved in to protect assets while overhead the two Erickson Air-Cranes and a multitude of helitaks delivered water directly onto the fire's edge. Police had established road blocks to prevent public entry but many cars were streaming out of the area, towing caravans and trailers loaded with personal processions; unwilling to witness the forthcoming onslaught.
The fire burnt through with great speed, selecting some houses and leaving others untouched, while taking out fences and outbuildings along the way. As night arrived in Boolarra the township was without power. The only light came from vehicle headlights and the eerie glow of trees and bushes still burning on the surrounding hills.
Although the township of Yinnar still had power, the fires had come to the edge of the town along Creamery Road, destroying some properties and leaving the town with glowing hills and smoke drifting in the air. When daylight arrived and blacking out began, the devastation became obvious. Some houses had burned so fiercely that all evidence of timber and plaster had vanished, leaving only fine ash.
Crockery and metal frames were all that existed amongst the twisted corrugated iron roofing now lying scattered between concrete house stumps. Water tanks were melted open and others were simply no longer there - only circles of plastic residue remained. Fences, farm machinery, haysheds and children’s playthings all bore scars from the heat.
Crews worked together on the fire ground, with large D7 bulldozers clearing wide earth breaks around plantations and farmland alike. Back at the staging area District Mechanical Officers (DMOs) were working on trucks while others were being fed a hearty roast meal for tea by the Red Cross. St John Ambulance crews were treating a few for minor injuries such as eye washes and re-fuellers were topping up trucks as required.
Click on the image below to view Keith's photos:
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| Boolara and district fires, 30 January and 1 February 2009 |
Video of the incident below:
File size: 8.5MB Running time: 3 mins 38 secs (Broadband recommended)
Produced by CFA Public Affairs
1 comments:
Fantastic to see; gives you a feel for what it may have been like.
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