They fought back

By Melissa Meehan
“IT WAS the fire we knew we were going to have – we just didn’t know when.”
Years before the fires that devastated Chum Creek and parts of Healesville, the residents near Long Gully Road had a plan – a plan that was to save 19 houses.
Charred paddocks surrounding the houses paint a different story, but upon closer analysis not one house was damaged by the blaze.
Turners Lane resident Linda Haultgren said the fire guard group set up 10 years ago by a neighbour saved her family’s livelihood.
“Mary (no longer a resident of Healesville) got the group together, we started with just six families but now we have 19,” Linda said.
“We have met once every year since to discuss fire plans, new pumps and other information.”
The idea of the group was for each family to call another during a blaze, to get the information out fast so others could be ready when the fires hit.
Fires threatened the homes to the North of Healesville and West of Chum Creek on four fronts.
Neighbour Tim Calkin said without the call from Linda he would have received no warning.
“The call came through much quicker than any other form of warning,” he said
“It’s faster than the CFA website, than radio – it’s not their fault, it just came through too quickly.”
Linda called Tim as soon as she called her assigned neighbour.
“I knew that by the time it got to Tim it would have been too late,” she said.
“It proves the group works both ways.”
Linda’s daughter, Jessie, said the group plan allowed for all 19 families to save their homes.
She said thanks to friends from Buxton and Castella her family was able to share information about the fires with neighbours.
The group urged others living in fire alert areas to take up their own fire guard groups.
“We’ve heard that the fire hit Narbethong an hour before it got to Marysville,” Jessie said.
“With a group like ours they might have had some warning.”