Waiting out fire danger

By Monique Ebrington
MANY Upper Yarra residents packed up what they could and took refuge at Lilydale last week as fire again threatened the Warburton Valley.
Lilydale showgrounds were filled on Tuesday with rows of cars, campervans and horse floats acting as temporary accommodation for those who chose to leave, rather than stay and defend their homes from fires.
Mikey Schama lives in the Warburton Caravan Park. He left Warburton and arrived at the Lilydale Relief Centre at 4am on Tuesday, filling his car with what he said were all the essentials.
“I grabbed bedding, my electric guitar, small amp and my artwork. My most important thing is that I have my drawings and paintings,” Mr Schama said.
Mr Schama said he was provided with a mattress and bedding as he arrived at the centre in the early hours of the morning and that there were already around a dozen other people sleeping there.
“They’re taking care of us. This is bringing out a lot of kindness,” he said.
“This is our home, at the moment, and everybody’s friendly and trying to make the most of it. Everybody has been doing the best they can.”
Frieda Borke, her daughter Naomi Underwood and 16-year-old granddaughter Alice left their Yarra Junction home early on the Tuesday, finding refuge at the relief centre.
Mrs Borke said that with their property having no electricity, their fire plan was always to leave if under threat.
Loading their car with their three dogs, clothes, books, Alice’s homework and a cat, Mrs Borke said she didn’t mind leaving some personal possessions behind.
“It didn’t bother me that I left my paintings, my piano and photos because I didn’t think anything would happen,” Mrs Borke said.
“My daughter’s quite nervous about the fires, so we did the right thing to be safe.”
Mrs Borke, her family and Mr Schama all said that while they didn’t think fires would reach Warburton and Yarra Junction they left as an act of caution.
“It’s not that you’re thinking the worst. You just have seen these hellish firestorms on TV and you think, this could happen to us,” Mr Schama said.