Victorian Bushfires. Strike team 1364. Protecting a house at St Andrews. Nth Warrandyte Tanker 2

This video documents part of my experience fighting the Black Saturday bushfires on the 7th February 2009 in Victoria, Australia. I was part of the crew on Nth Warrandyte tanker 2, and part of strike team 1364. We were assigned to protect property and people on a ridge just outside of St Andrews. We broke open a door and sheltered a family inside the house.

The house caught fire, but we were able to save it, and the family inside. My truck was caught in a burn-over when flames erupted from trees behind us, severely burning one of my crew on his arm and hand. I suffered facial burns myself. That was the single most terrifying experience of my life. I am grateful for the training and quick actions of myself and my crew (Daisy, Glen, Scott and Will) that saved us from further severe burns and possible death.

We tried to stop the fire jumping a road, but it was impossible due to 100+km/h winds and 48 deg celcius temps. The fire jumped the road and raced through the forest, destroying houses and killing people inside. My team did it's very best to save as many people as possible, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

My team was then the first team to make it to Kinglake. The fire front had just passed, and we had to clear the road using a grader, as it was blocked with burning trees and burning vehicles with people, including children, dead inside. It was an horrific experience. Kinglake was levelled, with homes burning and people dead inside them. I can only describe it as like the images you see of Hiroshima.

I worked a 20+ hour shift with my strike team, trying to protect the remaining residents and buildings from further harm.

All of the CFA members in my team, and all of the rest of the CFA worked indescribably hard to save as many people and properties as possible, but unfortunately, everything was against us.

My thoughts are with the people and families who's lives, homes and pets we were unable to save.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• victorian
• bushfires
• cfa
• warrandyte
• st
• andrews
• kinglake
• black
• saturday

[snowdogother]

Is there a small lightning strike in the last second of footage?

[GREENVK]

There is indeed. I was quite lucky to catch it on film. The fires generated a lot of lightning activity, which started new spot fires. Other phenomena seen were "fire balls", which floated down and instantly set alight anything they touched, and "fire tornadoes", huge, whirling spirals of fire, that sucked in debris and torched anything in their path.

[GREENVK]

It was Jackson's rd

[softflea]

It is jacksons rd and its my house. Thank you for saving it and all my animals.due to the perseverance of some true friends all have survived and their burns are slowely healing.We are forever greatfull to all those who risked their lives. I have met some of you and we would like to personally thank everyone.We actually had an alpaca deliver a healthy baby girl several weeks after the fires.

[macwithfries]

What can you do on a day like that...the wind was terrible. You fire fighters are amazing. The CFA in Vic did everything they could and so many others would have died if not for people like you!

[deadlighblabe]

this my house and it looks so different now

[krzyk71]

@Mikhanator 7 Februaray 2009

[crisss994]

@Mikhanator february the 1st im sure and i think it last for a few weeks

[Mikhanator]

What were the dates of the Vic black saturday bushfires?

Cause iv been googling it and cant find any...

[sunsetreptiles]

where was this at. Be there done that

[1AussieAvenger1]

yep 'fire balls' are real. i was on a tanker at Nth Lorne, Great Ocean Road, Ash Wednesday. it was getting dark and large trees overhanging the street. the driver stopped and ordered all off the truck and under it. as the street errupted into flame. a fireball raced down the street bouncing and luckily went over the truck. we'd all be dead or close to it if it hit us. fire moves fast. we had nowhere to go. thank god for the training. seen flames 300ft+ scary.

[token3488]

Is this the same NWCFA Tanker 2 from year 2000? Or has the CFA rolled it over since then?