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 Redesdale Figure 1.16: Redesdale interim fire progression map Mia Mia Point of origin at 15:11 hrs Approx 15:25 hrs Approx 15:15 hrs Approx 15:27 hrs Approx 15:20 hrs Wind change at 18:35 hrs Approx 15:42 hrs Approx 16:00 hrs Glenhope Metcalfe Barfold Approx 17:00 hrs Approx 18:00 hrs Sidonia Baynton 0 2 4 Kilometres Source: Exhibit 3 – Statement of Rees (WIT.004.001.0001) at 0107 373 Interim Final Fire Perimeter Built Up Areas Roads Waterways Fire Origin Summary information Fire Danger Index The maximum FDI was 87.2 at Redesdale AWS at 16:00. 374 Fatalities No fatalities 375 House losses 7 houses (as reported on 8 February) 376 Overall area burnt 9500 hectares 377 Firefighting resources The CFA’s peak commitment to the fire was 73 appliances and 400 personnel. DSE fire personnel also attended this fire. 378 72
The February 2009 Fires 379 1.143 At 15:11 a fire at Coliban Park Road, Redesdale was reported to the CFA. As the point of origin was on private land, the CFA was identified as the control agency, although responsibility passed to DSE when the fire was burning on public land after 7 February. 380 The ICC was located at Huntly, Bendigo, which was the ICC for the Maiden Gully fire. 381 1.144 At 15:11 5 local brigades were paged. At this time no aircraft were available for this incident. Two strike teams were activated at 15:30. 382 The fire burned through undulating grassland and scrub fuels and grazing country with steep gullies and washaways. 383 It burnt in a south-easterly direction and crossed the Metcalfe– Redesdale Road at 15:27 and the Kyneton–Heathcote Road at 15:42. At 16:49 Victoria Police was advised to close Watchbox Road to traffic. Further road closures followed. 384 1.145 Direct attack on this fire was made wherever possible. However, due to the terrain, dozers and other equipment were needed to secure the fire edge. The speed of this fire was so rapid that there was concern that the fire might reach the Cobaw Ranges or further beyond to the communities of Lancefield and Carlsruhe. This did not eventuate. 385 1.146 At approximately 18:30 the wind change reached the fire. Approximately two-thirds of the eastern flank of the fire was secured. The remaining eastern flank that did break away was in rough steep-gullied country. This part of the fire was progressively contained. 386 387 1.147 Over the next few days firefighters continued to secure the fire. This involved the strategic redeployment of resources between this fire and the nearby Maiden Gully fire. The fire was listed as contained at 09:56 on 10 February. 388 Warnings 1.148 At 16:13 an urgent threat message was posted on the CFA website for the communities of Barfold, Langley and Metcalfe East. At 16:47 a revised alert message was posted for the communities of Sidonia, Pastoria, and other communities to the east of Kyneton. 389 1.149 As the fire progressed, urgent threat messages were updated, advising ‘the communities of Pipers Creek, Carlsruhe, Woodend North, Newham, Cadello and Carbow [sic]’ to be alert and implement their fire plans. The messages advised that when the wind change arrived the fire would run in a north-easterly direction. Residents in Redesdale, Glenhope, Baynton and Baynton East, and residents in the areas between Glenhope, Baynton, Redesdale, Heathcote, Tooborac and Pyalong, were advised that they might also be under threat when the wind change passed through.’ 390 1.150 Threat messages were downgraded to alert status on 8 February, as the fire was controlled. Further urgent threat messages were issued when the fire again threatened communities on 9 February. 391 Narre Warren 392 1.151 The Commission has not yet taken evidence on the Narre Warren Fire that began at 15:32. 73
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