A close friend of mine is one of the CFA fire fighters battling the blazes. I got hold of him last night to check he was OK. He'd just got back from Wandong where they had been protecting several farm homsteads, Wandong town and school.
His recount of the experience was harrowing with at one point the fire storm passing over their fire truck whilst they took refuge inside it. Fortunately they were parked on the side of a hill where the fuel load was low (just grass). The thick smoke ash and and embers and what Guy described as lumps of flaming cow sh!t flying around them.
Guy tells it all in a mater of fact, all in a days work fashon but that's what he's like. I reckon it would be pretty terrifying to be there.
It was impossible to hold back the fire. Even just to hold a section of the front to protect a homestead was too much. The flames were just so intense. They had to let the front move through and then put out the flames after it had passed. Constantly on the move trying to protect property and ensure people got out safely.
Working around a large pine plantation this Catepillar couldn't move fast enough to get away from the flames. The driver abandoning it to get to safety.
You'll see there is still a line of trees standing along the edge of the plantation. This is an odd thing about the fire. The fire draws the wind inwards and whilst the inside of the plantation is reduced to ash the're is a thin belt around it almost unharmed.
Guy and the rest of the crew working the Avenel tanker were battling around Wandong Victoria. Their efforts saved Wandong School and surrounding houses. These blokes are true heroes and I'm very proud to call Guy my friend.
Cheers
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