Threat hits home

By Elizabeth Lillis
HOMEOWNERS in Pinehill Drive Pakenham had a close call when a grass fire spread through their backyards on Tuesday evening.
The fire threatened one homes and moved quickly into two other backyards and the easement of the Pakenham Golf Course.
Glenn and June Madden, who live on the corner of Pinehill Drive and Ryan Road, were surprised to see flames at the back of their two and a half acre property when they came out of their home to go out.
“We noticed there was really heavy smoke as we were going to the car to go to visit our son in Beaumaris,” Mr Madden said.
‘Then we saw flames in our yard and ran to get a hose.
“We were really shocked, we never expected anything like it,” he said.
The Maddens are well known as stalwarts of Pakenham’s Yakkerboo Festival committee and have for years assisted in the festival’s art show.
Mr Madden, whose property was the third to be affected, said he had cleared his property of all garden rubbish in December and did not consider it a high fire risk.
He said the CFA arrived just as they discovered the blaze.
The CFA fought the fire at the back of the Maddens’ property while he and is wife, assisted by their son Robert, put out spot fires in the yard with a hose and buckets.
“The CFA had it under control fairly quickly,” he said.
“If we had left half an hour early to go out we would have arrived home last night wondering what had happened,” Mr Madden said.
Pakenham CFA Captain Vince Ingram said crews were called to the fire at 5.30pm.
Five calls were received for different locations in the same area, causing a few minutes delay as crews worked out the best way to access the fire.
Six CFA trucks were called to the fire including crews from Pakenham, Maryknoll, Pakenham Upper, Kooweerup, Nar Nar Goon and Officer along with the Narre Warren service van.
Mr Ingram, who was officer in charge for the fire, said fire crews cut through wire fencing to gain access to the back of the properties.
“Good wind conditions assisted with the control of the fire,” Mr Ingram said.
The fire was controlled just after 6pm and officers completed mopping up by 8.30pm.
Pakenham Police assisted by creating a roadblock at the corner of Pinehill Drive and Ryan Road.
Inspector Chris Notman said police four cars were sent to the fire assist with traffic control.
An ambulance was called to assist middle-aged women who suffered from smoke inhalation.
She was treated at the scene.
Mr Ingram said the fire appeared be started by a pump in a dam catching alight at the first property but the cause is still being investigated.