At some point l need to write down what our experience of 7th Feb was. Its all a bit jumbled and l keep remembering bits.
But the bare bones of it..
Planning MIL & SIL visit for lunch. Worried about SIL being able to get through on freeway, roads closed because of Bunyip fire.
It was hot but really still.
We had prepped a bit because it was predicted fire weather. Swept leaves, cleaned gutters, fire hoses & pump were out but not connected, ABC radio on etc
ILs were late as usual, had been here 5 mins when the phone rang.
"have you seen the fire, how close is it, can you go see where it is"
It must have just been lit, friends were in Mirboo Nth fixing fences from the fires last week, wanting to know should they come home.
I went for a drive, got 500m up the road "SHIT its close, really close"
Came home and put the photos in the car, they were stored in a case in our room.
Grabbed our big local map and we worked out where it was using ABC, CFA web & sight. Plotted wind direction and where it was heading, trying to do a rough prediction of where it was going and where the flanks would be when the wind changed (due at midnight) .
Phone started ringing hot, so while Jock went to alert neighbours and make sure they would be ok, l made some calls. Dad & Ali to be our point of contact, then mum, nana etc. Letting them know it was close and we were prepping the house, also that we were not sure of our plan to stay.
ILs were VERY nervous, so much for casual lunch, tossed food on the brekky bar and told them to help themselves before they left.
The whole time we were connecting pumps, hoses, filling buckets we were both very calm. Making conversation with the ILs and keeping an eye on the kids.
We forgot to eat, though reminded each other to drink lots of water.
Deb called and offered to collect the girls & dogs if needed.
At this point we were still behind the fire, no smoke, safe.
I have no idea of time. It started before 2...
ILs left, before they left they asked if we needed help, though expressed their desire to be gone as soon as possible.
When they left we could really focus on prep. Making gutter plugs (yep still didn't have any) used empty stubbies in holders on the round holes. Metal tape with bags of sand on the square ones. Filled the gutters and started wetting the house.
We moved everything we could from around the house and shed. Put mops and towels in the buckets, metal rakes.
We talked about the kids, decided they were too little to stay, it was getting scary, we were too busy to look after them. Called Deb and asked if they could stay overnight. In case it came any closer.
Told the girls we were packing a Gobag, they chose PJs, 2 days clothes and toys they wanted with them. We did the same, 2 days clothes and Jocks bike gear, l packed my knitting needles and 2 projects.
The paperwork folder with tax, bank etc. Kids memory boxes, MCHN books, Dog vacc books. I took too long measuring dog food for a couple of days.
Wasn't sure about shade cloth, they tell you that blinds help keep embers off the windows. Called dad and he said to take it all down, he was calm but adamant that the kids should go. "Just get your babies out button, promise me"
It must have been close to 5 by then, the radio was telling us the change was coming early and it was gusting hard.
Back to the map to plot the wind direction... my gut clenched. It was going to be close. I had an overwhelming desire to pick the girls up and run. It took a lot not to do this. Its hard to describe the feeling.. l didn't feel in any danger, l wasn't scared, l just had to get them away.
Got the kids in the car with a blanket hooked over their seats, just in case. The dogs were freaking out and trying to run away. Jock was on the loo, bloody Colitis!
I yelled to Jock that l was going, he (from toilet) said he would meet me at Jamies, he couldn't stay by himself, but we had to get the kids out.
This is the point we decided to let the house go.
Driving out, it was black. Mud was falling from the sky, wipers with washers on the whole time and l still had trouble seeing. The change had hit.
My little car was being blown from one side of the road to the other. Having stability conrol and anti skid saved us more than once. Girls were squealing with excitement "weeee do it again mum"
Big branches were bouncing off the roof and hitting the windscreen. I told the girls to grab the blanket ready to cover themselves if the windows broke to keep the tickle wind out.
I'd left it 5 mins too late. 5 mins earlier, no wind or mud. I was watching massive trees bending towards us.
Rained mud the whole way to Traralgon. Jock called to see make sure we had got through. I tell him l'm not sure l've made the right decision, its raining ashes and mud here too, what if they arn't safe. Kelly "mum its ok, we will be safe here"
Deb had another family there from T'gon Sth. They wanted me to stay.
I wanted nothing more than to sit back with a drink and listen to the radio, watching my girls.
But Jock was at home, l told Deb l'd go to Jamies, see what the situation was then probably come back to stay the night. I didn't want to risk the girls losing both parents.
Back in the car l got a voice message from Jock. Loud loud fire in the background, poor reception "trucks are pulling out, its coming, l'm going now" I didn't if he had just left the message, or was it in the 30 mins it took to settle the kids in.
Driving back toward Loy Yang, cars pouring out of Traralgon Sth, they were driving hard. Pulling over and jumping out to hug people in the cars behind.
I saw, but didn't understand.
Closer to home l wanted to stop and take a photo, the fire was one big BIG tounge of flame rolling down the hill. I knew that it was so very close to our place.
Police on our road, can't go through. I told him l only needed to get as high as Holts Rd. "Sorry its gone, burning like a bastard up there, its too late, everythings gone up there" I remember bending over and sobbing. "sorry, sorry, l'm ok, just l got them out in time, l got my kids out" I thought then, the house is gone and Jock is somewhere up there.
I walked back to the car, sat in the passenger side and called Jock. He answered straight away, he had made it to Jamies.
I asked if they needed me there, because l'd seen the how hot it was burning and how fast and l did NOT want to be there.
Yes, if it comes closed we had to save Jamies place there were a lot of people there.
He told me to come up Lawless Rd, l thought he said Lawless farm. Good thing l heard wrong. I went further down the road, took a lane towards Lawless farm and back onto our road. It was still dark, raining mud, windy. Now there were embers falling.
At Jamies, l changed out of shorts and crocks to full kit. Jeans, wools socks and blundstones, cotton shirt, flannel shirt, hat. Traded my sunnies for one of the kids goggles, it hurt to have eyes open.
I was offered a girly drink... for christs sake its 46+c, fire is headed to us and they offer me a pink fizzy think. Jamie overheard and passed me a beer.
Called Ali and let her know the kids were out, where we were. Forgot to tell any family where the kids were, Deb had no details of our family.
I did a tour with Andrea to see where they had all their gear. Then the wind stopped. It just stopped. They had a wind siren on the roof that had been blaring, and it went quiet.
Everyone froze. Waiting to see where it would come from next. Minutes, or a minute. Looking at each other with amazement.
Jamie and Jock were putting chainsaws in a Ute with trailer, both had 1200L tanks on the back. Priming the pumps, grabbing gear. They were going to check on the house "Do you want to come"
I admitted l was scared of being caught on the road, Jamie showed me what they had, we did a rough plan. Jock & Jamie would use chainsaws, me sprayer, other guy. Maybe Russell? Spray, drive move debris.
3 people did headcounts and checked who was sitting where in the car. If it went up, we would be easier to identify. That sounds sick when l put it down.
Driving slow, no big debris. Closer and closer, its only 2.4km. The close we get the brighter it gets. See flames in the bush near our house, other side of the road. The house is still there.
We jump out and run around the house looking for anything thats burning. Then in side, up into the loft and other hot spots.
Nothing
Not a wisp of smoke anywhere.
Next door we see flames 50m? from the house. Have a quick but serious talk.
If it picks up can we still defend it. Check our water, pump, how much petrol left for the pump. All decide its in a good position.
Race back to Jamies so we can go back in our car. They can't spare anyone if it keeps running down towards them.
Drive back, there is a fire truck on the bottom drive! SHIT its only been 10 mins it can't be burning now!
They are checking house to house. Ask if they need a drink.. no thanks.
Then "Jo, a phone, call Simone, l left mine at home" Jock throws the phone to me and l call. She is more than a little surprised to hear he is at our place, pass him the phone. He had been out for hours with the CFA, radios are reporting flashovers on local trucks. Others use the phone and reassure their families. We walk around again with the CFA, they get us to make a few changes. Confident we can walk the fire through. They then catch their breath, sit for a few mins, we get cold drinks from the house for them.
Crew change is done at our driveway, we have 4 trucks, 2 cars, CFA everywhere for 30 mins. Then they are gone, there are houses burning, we can hear their radios. We know, its bad.
We sit and try to eat, every tree that falls we race out the front in case is sparks over. I'm so tired, l need to sleep. Hop into bed in the study so we only dirty one bed. I can't sleep but l rest. Phone rings, its Jamie making sure we are ok. Jock sleeps. Rubberneckers are turning in our drive every 5 mins.
Somewhere in this.
At the start l called Kylie, l didn't Know Vickies number to alert her. Kylie can't contact her, we worry that she and her babies are sleeping, unaware. Jeff drives out to check on them, lets us know she is gone & safe. He offers to stay, but we sent him home. Sure at that point it wouldn't swing our way.
Later back home, called Kylie to get a message to Rod, he had offered to come if we needed. Talked to him about where we were at, he offers to come out if we need to rest.
I know l called Ali & Deb. Maybe mum. We had battery radio, gas light & phones. The threat alerts for our road were constant.
Text at 1am from Tash, l'm so tired l can barely walk, l call her and talk. Alert enough at the end of the call to stay up until 3am and give Jock a good rest.
We now know while we were walking calmly around, working out our plan for the night, there were people dying. When we were cheering the wind change away from us, people were caught unaware by a firestorm.
Some panicked and went for their cars and died on the road. Some their houses gone, ran for cars or dams and died. Others sheltered from the front in their houses, that exploded around them and they died.
Were they telling their babies "Its ok, mummy will keep you safe'? Like l did..
Overnight the 1st deaths were reported. Its hard to comprehend that so many people have been directly affected by fire in such a short time.
We don't feel we were, only registered with the Red Cross because the police told us to.
We have a house, a family we didn't fight a fire.
Police checks everytime you use our road, alert for strangers offering help. Is it the arsonist, a looter?
I'll come back to Sunday, and Monday at some point.
I need to get some photos taken on Saturday, we are heavily treed and you couldn't SEE anything coming.
But the bare bones of it..
Planning MIL & SIL visit for lunch. Worried about SIL being able to get through on freeway, roads closed because of Bunyip fire.
It was hot but really still.
We had prepped a bit because it was predicted fire weather. Swept leaves, cleaned gutters, fire hoses & pump were out but not connected, ABC radio on etc
ILs were late as usual, had been here 5 mins when the phone rang.
"have you seen the fire, how close is it, can you go see where it is"
It must have just been lit, friends were in Mirboo Nth fixing fences from the fires last week, wanting to know should they come home.
I went for a drive, got 500m up the road "SHIT its close, really close"
Came home and put the photos in the car, they were stored in a case in our room.
Grabbed our big local map and we worked out where it was using ABC, CFA web & sight. Plotted wind direction and where it was heading, trying to do a rough prediction of where it was going and where the flanks would be when the wind changed (due at midnight) .
Phone started ringing hot, so while Jock went to alert neighbours and make sure they would be ok, l made some calls. Dad & Ali to be our point of contact, then mum, nana etc. Letting them know it was close and we were prepping the house, also that we were not sure of our plan to stay.
ILs were VERY nervous, so much for casual lunch, tossed food on the brekky bar and told them to help themselves before they left.
The whole time we were connecting pumps, hoses, filling buckets we were both very calm. Making conversation with the ILs and keeping an eye on the kids.
We forgot to eat, though reminded each other to drink lots of water.
Deb called and offered to collect the girls & dogs if needed.
At this point we were still behind the fire, no smoke, safe.
I have no idea of time. It started before 2...
ILs left, before they left they asked if we needed help, though expressed their desire to be gone as soon as possible.
When they left we could really focus on prep. Making gutter plugs (yep still didn't have any) used empty stubbies in holders on the round holes. Metal tape with bags of sand on the square ones. Filled the gutters and started wetting the house.
We moved everything we could from around the house and shed. Put mops and towels in the buckets, metal rakes.
We talked about the kids, decided they were too little to stay, it was getting scary, we were too busy to look after them. Called Deb and asked if they could stay overnight. In case it came any closer.
Told the girls we were packing a Gobag, they chose PJs, 2 days clothes and toys they wanted with them. We did the same, 2 days clothes and Jocks bike gear, l packed my knitting needles and 2 projects.
The paperwork folder with tax, bank etc. Kids memory boxes, MCHN books, Dog vacc books. I took too long measuring dog food for a couple of days.
Wasn't sure about shade cloth, they tell you that blinds help keep embers off the windows. Called dad and he said to take it all down, he was calm but adamant that the kids should go. "Just get your babies out button, promise me"
It must have been close to 5 by then, the radio was telling us the change was coming early and it was gusting hard.
Back to the map to plot the wind direction... my gut clenched. It was going to be close. I had an overwhelming desire to pick the girls up and run. It took a lot not to do this. Its hard to describe the feeling.. l didn't feel in any danger, l wasn't scared, l just had to get them away.
Got the kids in the car with a blanket hooked over their seats, just in case. The dogs were freaking out and trying to run away. Jock was on the loo, bloody Colitis!
I yelled to Jock that l was going, he (from toilet) said he would meet me at Jamies, he couldn't stay by himself, but we had to get the kids out.
This is the point we decided to let the house go.
Driving out, it was black. Mud was falling from the sky, wipers with washers on the whole time and l still had trouble seeing. The change had hit.
My little car was being blown from one side of the road to the other. Having stability conrol and anti skid saved us more than once. Girls were squealing with excitement "weeee do it again mum"
Big branches were bouncing off the roof and hitting the windscreen. I told the girls to grab the blanket ready to cover themselves if the windows broke to keep the tickle wind out.
I'd left it 5 mins too late. 5 mins earlier, no wind or mud. I was watching massive trees bending towards us.
Rained mud the whole way to Traralgon. Jock called to see make sure we had got through. I tell him l'm not sure l've made the right decision, its raining ashes and mud here too, what if they arn't safe. Kelly "mum its ok, we will be safe here"
Deb had another family there from T'gon Sth. They wanted me to stay.
I wanted nothing more than to sit back with a drink and listen to the radio, watching my girls.
But Jock was at home, l told Deb l'd go to Jamies, see what the situation was then probably come back to stay the night. I didn't want to risk the girls losing both parents.
Back in the car l got a voice message from Jock. Loud loud fire in the background, poor reception "trucks are pulling out, its coming, l'm going now" I didn't if he had just left the message, or was it in the 30 mins it took to settle the kids in.
Driving back toward Loy Yang, cars pouring out of Traralgon Sth, they were driving hard. Pulling over and jumping out to hug people in the cars behind.
I saw, but didn't understand.
Closer to home l wanted to stop and take a photo, the fire was one big BIG tounge of flame rolling down the hill. I knew that it was so very close to our place.
Police on our road, can't go through. I told him l only needed to get as high as Holts Rd. "Sorry its gone, burning like a bastard up there, its too late, everythings gone up there" I remember bending over and sobbing. "sorry, sorry, l'm ok, just l got them out in time, l got my kids out" I thought then, the house is gone and Jock is somewhere up there.
I walked back to the car, sat in the passenger side and called Jock. He answered straight away, he had made it to Jamies.
I asked if they needed me there, because l'd seen the how hot it was burning and how fast and l did NOT want to be there.
Yes, if it comes closed we had to save Jamies place there were a lot of people there.
He told me to come up Lawless Rd, l thought he said Lawless farm. Good thing l heard wrong. I went further down the road, took a lane towards Lawless farm and back onto our road. It was still dark, raining mud, windy. Now there were embers falling.
At Jamies, l changed out of shorts and crocks to full kit. Jeans, wools socks and blundstones, cotton shirt, flannel shirt, hat. Traded my sunnies for one of the kids goggles, it hurt to have eyes open.
I was offered a girly drink... for christs sake its 46+c, fire is headed to us and they offer me a pink fizzy think. Jamie overheard and passed me a beer.
Called Ali and let her know the kids were out, where we were. Forgot to tell any family where the kids were, Deb had no details of our family.
I did a tour with Andrea to see where they had all their gear. Then the wind stopped. It just stopped. They had a wind siren on the roof that had been blaring, and it went quiet.
Everyone froze. Waiting to see where it would come from next. Minutes, or a minute. Looking at each other with amazement.
Jamie and Jock were putting chainsaws in a Ute with trailer, both had 1200L tanks on the back. Priming the pumps, grabbing gear. They were going to check on the house "Do you want to come"
I admitted l was scared of being caught on the road, Jamie showed me what they had, we did a rough plan. Jock & Jamie would use chainsaws, me sprayer, other guy. Maybe Russell? Spray, drive move debris.
3 people did headcounts and checked who was sitting where in the car. If it went up, we would be easier to identify. That sounds sick when l put it down.
Driving slow, no big debris. Closer and closer, its only 2.4km. The close we get the brighter it gets. See flames in the bush near our house, other side of the road. The house is still there.
We jump out and run around the house looking for anything thats burning. Then in side, up into the loft and other hot spots.
Nothing
Not a wisp of smoke anywhere.
Next door we see flames 50m? from the house. Have a quick but serious talk.
If it picks up can we still defend it. Check our water, pump, how much petrol left for the pump. All decide its in a good position.
Race back to Jamies so we can go back in our car. They can't spare anyone if it keeps running down towards them.
Drive back, there is a fire truck on the bottom drive! SHIT its only been 10 mins it can't be burning now!
They are checking house to house. Ask if they need a drink.. no thanks.
Then "Jo, a phone, call Simone, l left mine at home" Jock throws the phone to me and l call. She is more than a little surprised to hear he is at our place, pass him the phone. He had been out for hours with the CFA, radios are reporting flashovers on local trucks. Others use the phone and reassure their families. We walk around again with the CFA, they get us to make a few changes. Confident we can walk the fire through. They then catch their breath, sit for a few mins, we get cold drinks from the house for them.
Crew change is done at our driveway, we have 4 trucks, 2 cars, CFA everywhere for 30 mins. Then they are gone, there are houses burning, we can hear their radios. We know, its bad.
We sit and try to eat, every tree that falls we race out the front in case is sparks over. I'm so tired, l need to sleep. Hop into bed in the study so we only dirty one bed. I can't sleep but l rest. Phone rings, its Jamie making sure we are ok. Jock sleeps. Rubberneckers are turning in our drive every 5 mins.
Somewhere in this.
At the start l called Kylie, l didn't Know Vickies number to alert her. Kylie can't contact her, we worry that she and her babies are sleeping, unaware. Jeff drives out to check on them, lets us know she is gone & safe. He offers to stay, but we sent him home. Sure at that point it wouldn't swing our way.
Later back home, called Kylie to get a message to Rod, he had offered to come if we needed. Talked to him about where we were at, he offers to come out if we need to rest.
I know l called Ali & Deb. Maybe mum. We had battery radio, gas light & phones. The threat alerts for our road were constant.
Text at 1am from Tash, l'm so tired l can barely walk, l call her and talk. Alert enough at the end of the call to stay up until 3am and give Jock a good rest.
We now know while we were walking calmly around, working out our plan for the night, there were people dying. When we were cheering the wind change away from us, people were caught unaware by a firestorm.
Some panicked and went for their cars and died on the road. Some their houses gone, ran for cars or dams and died. Others sheltered from the front in their houses, that exploded around them and they died.
Were they telling their babies "Its ok, mummy will keep you safe'? Like l did..
Overnight the 1st deaths were reported. Its hard to comprehend that so many people have been directly affected by fire in such a short time.
We don't feel we were, only registered with the Red Cross because the police told us to.
We have a house, a family we didn't fight a fire.
Police checks everytime you use our road, alert for strangers offering help. Is it the arsonist, a looter?
I'll come back to Sunday, and Monday at some point.
I need to get some photos taken on Saturday, we are heavily treed and you couldn't SEE anything coming.
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