the february 2009 fires - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

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2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission—Interim Report 1 THE FEBRUARY 2009 FIRES 1.88 The first reports of casualties were received at the Kangaroo Ground Divisional Control Centre at 17:00 from the Arthurs Creek Captain. 207 The fire reached the National Park Hotel on Main Road, Kinglake at approximately 17:45. 208 The Kangaroo Ground tower had advised by radio of the wind change occurring at Kangaroo Ground at 17:43. 209 At 17:55 the tower recorded the wind change blowing at over 90 kilometres per hour and reported it to the fireground. 210 By 18:00 CFA tankers, pumpers and communications vehicles were responding to new fires at Humevale, Strathewen, Arthurs Creek, Yarra Glen, Gruyere and Healesville. All of these fires were caused by spotting. 211 212 1.89 At 18:01 the wind change had come through St Andrews. When the south-westerly wind change reached these fires between 18:00 and 19:00, it was not possible to secure the eastern flank of the fire due to the heavy forest and plantation fuel loads. 213 The main fire, and the subsequent spot fires, headed in a northeasterly direction, burning through heavy fuels. 214 At 19:40 the fire was recorded in Flowerdale. 215 The Kilmore East–Wandong section of the fire headed generally north along the Hume Highway towards Reedy Creek impacting at 20:00, burning through the remainder of the Wallaby Creek catchment, the Kinglake National Park and the Mount Disappointment Forest. 216 Progressively through the evening it impacted the settlements of Hazeldene and Silver Creek. The fire was recorded at Mudgegonga at about 22:00. 217 1.90 1.91 From Strathewen and Humevale, the fire headed generally north, through Kinglake central, Castella and along the Melba Highway towards the settlement of Glenburn. The Kilmore East fire did not join with the Murrindindi fire on 7 February. 218 The fire was never under control on 7 February. 219 Throughout the night of 7 February, and the following days, as the fire reached grassland, it was stopped and the edge of the fire progressively secured. However, in forested areas, particularly in the Maroondah catchment, Toolangi State Forest and Yarra Ranges National Park, containment was difficult. In particular, the fire caused considerable concern around the Healesville area over the next few days as containment works, including back burning, continued. 220 The fire was listed as contained on 16 February. 221 Warnings 58 1.92 1.93 1.94 1.95 1.96 Some warning messages for the Kilmore East fire were issued from the Seymour Regional Emergency Coordination Centre (authorised by the Regional Coordinator) and from the iECC (authorised by the State Duty Officer), in addition to those issued from Kilmore ICC. 222 At 12:40 an initial awareness message was issued for the Kilmore East fire for Kilmore East, Wandong and Clonbinane. 223 Urgent threat messages were issued progressively for communities to the south-east and east of the fire, and subsequently updated as further information was available. 224 At 13:59 an urgent threat message was issued for Wandong. 225 At 14:40 an urgent threat message was posted to the CFA website for the community of Wandong, and messages were progressively posted for the communities of Hidden Valley (at 15:05), Whittlesea (at 15:33), Heathcote Junction and Upper Plenty (at 16:05), Humevale, Arthurs Creek, Eden Park, Nutfield and Doreen (at 16:35) and for communities from Kinglake to Flowerdale (at 17:55). 226 At 17:20 an urgent threat message was released from Kangaroo Ground Divisional Control Centre indicating Wandong, Wallan, Wallan East, Eden Park, Whittlesea, Humevale, Bruces Creek, Upper Plenty, Kinglake West, Pheasant Creek, Smiths Gully, Kinglake, Flowerdale, Glenburn and Hurstbridge might be affected by the fire. 227 It also referred to road closures. 228 Urgent threat messages had been drafted earlier in the afternoon (from 14:30) at Kangaroo Ground Divisional Control Centre, but had not been released as the fire was being controlled from the ICC at Kilmore. 229 At 18:45, an urgent threat message posted to the CFA website noted that Wandong, Wallan, Wallan East, Eden Park, Whittlesea, Humevale, Bruces Creek, Upper Plenty, Kinglake West, Pheasant Creek, Smiths Gully, Kinglake, Flowerdale, Glenburn and Hurstbridge might be directly affected by fire. 230 As the fire continued to burn through the night, an urgent threat message was posted to the CFA website at 22:32 advising of possible direct attack on Broadford, Broadford East in the area of O’Gradys Road, south of Broadford, Broadford–Wandong/Sunday Creek Road, Reedy Creek and Tyaak. Residents were advised not to expect firefighting trucks to be in attendance if the firefront approached their properties. 231
The February 2009 Fires 1.97 1.98 On the morning of 8 February, the fire was described as burning in the Yarra Valley near Kinglake, in a northeasterly direction. At 04:38 an urgent threat message was posted to the CFA website stating that Kinglake, Kinglake West, Toolangi, Glenburn, Strathewen, Chum Creek, Dixons Creek, Castella, Pheasant Creek, Doreen, Yan Yean, Woodstock, Mernda, Mittons Bridge, Hurstbridge, St Andrews, Panton Hills, Arthurs Creek, Smiths Gully, Christmas Hills, Healesville, Yarra Glen, Coldstream, Tarrawarra and Steels Creek had been or might be directly affected by this fire. 232 Further messages posted to the CFA website at 09:29 on 8 February advised that the fire was burning towards the Glenburn area, in particular Glenburn and settlements to the north and north-east along the Melba Highway, and Yea River Valley towards Murrindindi. Warnings were also posted for Yea, Seymour and Toolangi. 233 Warnings issued for the Kilmore East fire are discussed further in Chapter 9. Source: Pat Scala, courtesy of The Age 59
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