Small town’s big effort

TUCKED away off the main Healesville-Kooweerup Road, Yellingbo fire station is a hive of activity in the tiny quiet rural community.
Established in 1954, Yellingbo Fire Brigade has a proud history of serving the community. The 2008/2009 fire season was no exception.
Brigade members went to bed on the Friday night before Black Saturday nervous of what might occur the following day.
“Sleep was quickly interrupted as we were called to a grass fire at Beenak Road, Yellingbo, in the early hours of Saturday morning,” said 2nd Lieutenant Michael O’Connor.
“We turned out at about 1am, along with other brigades from the district, and got on top of it quickly.
“We returned home again to try and get some more sleep, now somewhat fearful if this was an indication of what’s in store for us in the coming day.”
There was a sense of nervous anticipation as brigade members started arriving at the station on Saturday morning.
It was possibly the first time in the brigade’s history, according to Captain Paul Spinks, that the members had mustered in anticipation of a fire event.
“We passed the time watching DVDs, listening to music and checking the CFA website for updates,” Communications Officer Katie Williams said.
The second call for the day came at about 11am.
“Thankfully, it was a false alarm with residents mistaking smoke from the Bunyip fire as something much closer,” Mr Spinks said.
The Yellingbo crew members did, though, get a good view of the Bunyip fire in the distance and could see how that blaze had clearly built in intensity.
“The reality dawned on us that it was no longer a case of if we would get called out, but when.”
Local brigades around the valley continued to turnout to similar scenarios over the next hour or two, and local residents started phoning the brigade, or dropping in at the station to find out what was going on.
“Radio traffic was increasing every hour and by mid afternoon we could see large plumes of smoke coming from what turned out to be the Kilmore fire.
“Burnt leaves started to drop in the carpark and it wasn’t long before we got the message that our tanker and crew was required to be a part of a strike team forming at Wandin,” Ms Williams said.
“Our slip-on and its crew followed shortly after to be part of another strike team, leaving a couple of brigade members and a resident’s private slip-on as the only defence left in Yellingbo.”
1st Lieutenant Neil Shankly observes that what happened on what quickly became known as Black Saturday, and in the proceeding days, is indeed a tragic chapter in Victoria’s bushfire history.
On 7 February and over subsequent weeks Yellingbo firefighters were deployed to areas including Tarrawarra Valley, Long Gully, Yarra Glen, Dixons Creek, Toolangi, Kinglake, Chum Creek, Healesville, Upwey/Ferntree Gully and the Upper Yarra Valley. Yellingbo also provided personnel in the areas of communications, logistics and staging.
As captain, Paul Spinks is proud of his team.
“It was a huge effort by all brigade members to constantly put their hands up, not only to be in the line of fire, but in all the other roles that are every bit as important,” he said.
“The brigade, as a team, is incredibly proud of its efforts over that period, but that can be said and should be said about every person or emergency service that battled those fires during that day and in the following weeks.”
In the past 10 months Mr Shankly said Yellingbo Fire Brigade has been fortunate, and very appreciative to have eight new members join the brigade.
“These new member have shown great commitment to the CFA and the community, increasing resources in the local area,” he said.
Black Saturday and the ensuing weeks are not just part of Victoria’s history, they are part of Yellingbo’s experience, and will be part of its history, too.
“We extend our support and thoughts to all those tragically impacted by the 2009 fires and sincerely thank the community for their generous assistance and encouragement, especially the residents of Yellingbo community,” Mr Spinks said on behalf of all brigade members.
“Your kindness, heart-felt thanks and generosity has touched us all – new members, and old, and is incredibly appreciated.”