the february 2009 fires - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

The February 2009 Fires
1.105 At 12:36 ESTA took a call about a grass fire in undulating grazing land adjacent to the Glenelg Highway,
north-west of Coleraine. 262 As the point of origin was on private land, the CFA was nominated as the control
agency. 263 A CFA ICC, located at the DSE Heywood offices, managed the fire. 264
265
1.106 At 12:36 5 CFA tankers were deployed and 2 water-bombing aircraft were requested at 12:42. Local
reports indicated that the fire was growing rapidly and at 12:43 a further 8 tankers were requested. 266
267
1.107 The fire behaved typically for a fire occurring in the western districts, albeit in extreme weather conditions.
The countryside is undulating grazing land and fuel loads were medium to relatively heavy. 268 The fire ran
through a dry creek bed to the south-west of the town and then, following the wind change at 13:23,
burned in a north-easterly direction. 269 The eastern flank of the fire was not contained before the wind
change. The timing of the wind change was critical to the safety of the town. Fire behaviour was at its
worst in the heavy fuel areas with flame heights reported at approximately 12 metres. 270
1.108 There was concern that the wind change would push the fire into the town of Coleraine. Plans to evacuate
the Coleraine District Health Service were made although evacuation did not eventuate. 271 The fire was
stopped at its most easterly point at 15:21, and was formally listed as contained at 17:21. 272
Warnings
1.109 The first urgent threat message for this fire was posted to the CFA website at 13:30 for Muntham, Coleraine
and Hilgay. The message stated that the fire was burning immediately west of Coleraine, had jumped the
Glenelg Highway, and was burning in an easterly direction. A prior alert or awareness message was not
issued for this fire. Updated urgent threat messages were provided as the fire progressed. At 18:16 a threat
downgrade message was posted to the CFA website, advising that the fire was contained. 273
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