Carrum Downs Bushfire 20/01/09

A grass and scrub fire burnt through an area of natural ti-tree and scrub in Carrum Downs in an area known as the Ballarto Rd Triangle at the rear of an Aldi Supermarket store. A part of this area is a future freeway reserve and has many foot tracks winding around and through it. On the eastern flank of the fire were homes in an estate called Botany Park and most occupants were on their roofs with garden hoses trying to prevent an ember attack. Ground CFA crews were working the fire hard with the assistance of a Type 2 helitack 331 when a weather change came through altering the progress of the fire and flaring up the fire towards homes. One house suffered damage to its roof even though the owners were wetting it down; but crews were on-scene quickly to bring it under control.

The Aldi carpark became the staging area for the call and was driven from Patterson River brigades Mobile Command Van. Bayside Council Rangers also assisted with two slip-on units in the fire fight and later in the call members from the Wildlife Rescue co-ordinated the removal of many fire-affected possums in the burnt area.

Video & Words by Keith Pakenham, CFA Public Affairs

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• CFA
• Country Fire Authority
• Victoria
• Australia
• bushfire
• firefighters
• emergency
• helicopter
• water
• bombing
• Carrum Downs

[YOana1dinamovista]

wow!..scary!!

[krissibella]

i remember driving home from work this day and i got off at rutherford rd instead of seasford like normal and got stuck in the traffic for this, the median strip in the middle i had to drive thru and the fire came sweeping across the road behind me and over to the gym.

[candiceh15]

thats to the CFA you saved alot of houses in skye from being burnt down, my house was one of them :) my regards to the farm that has suffored from this fire.

[natethelongfang]

A HUGE thank you to the CFA.  We live on Ballarto Road and we rely on you every summer. CFA, SES, police - you are true heroes.

[BlakesMercury]

got off the 832 to check it out

[PennydalePalace]

I think you mean Kingston not Bayside.

[ponylad1]

cool video, doesnt this bush go up every few years?

[stickysausage]

I love water bommers! CFA are the best! Hats off to you fella's!

[ST4C3YSMYTH3]

I used to live on that road! Haha at 1:17 my friends and I would chill down there drinking, I live around the corner now, was a pretty full on fire!

[MATWrehearsals]

Good luck to you all Down Under. This is a tough time you're facing but if anyone can face up to a challenge like this and come through, it's the Aussies. Best wishes from Glasgow, Scotland.