By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
FIRE has ripped through areas east of Pakenham this week in a horror start to the Victorian bushfire season.
At 2.20pm on Tuesday 6 October, the CFA received the first reports of a grass/scrub fire that had broken out in Nar Nar Goon North.
By 3.45pm, more than 30 crews were on scene, attempting to battle the blaze travelling quickly in a westerly direction from Pooley Road towards Mortimer Road.
At 4.24pm that afternoon, the CFA issued an emergency warning to people in Maryknoll, Nar Nar Goon North and Tynong for the fast-moving, out-of-control bushfire, which was at that point moving in a northerly direction from Mortimer Road towards Gembrook State Forest.
Incident Controller Greg Christison said there were nearly 40 appliances, including Pakenham crews, in attendance at the height of the blaze.
“The CFA was the control agency, but we also had crews from DEWLP and Parks Victoria fighting the fire,” he said.
“There was a point in time when we had some serious concerns for property in the area, before a late wind change towards the Bunyip State Park.”
Although the CFA had not officially staged an evacuation of Maryknoll, there were some residents who decided the threat was too great to stay.
Located on Snells Road in Maryknoll, Windana Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre made the decision to evacuate its 38 patients and six staff around 3pm.
Therapeutic Community Clinician Shannon De Silva said residents took backpacks and were evacuated to the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham.
“The CFA had advised that there was a potential threat to the property, so we made the decision to leave in the interests of everyone’s safety,” she said.
“Luckily, the wind changed direction and the property was spared.”
Patients and staff returned to the property around 7pm, at which time a community meeting had been called at the Maryknoll Fire Station.
Maryknoll resident Moira Horton was present at the gathering, and said the CFA along with representatives from Victoria Police and Cardinia Shire provided the community with the most up-to-date information.
“We received an automated emergency message on our home phone around 6.20, when it was still classified as an emergency warning,” she said.
“The CFA updated us on the situation and said that the fire had been brought under control.”
Mr Christison said almost 100 residents attended the meeting, where emergency services personnel provided residents with practical information and advice.
“The community was given a level of awareness of the situation and about what was happening around them,” he said.
“We explained things like traffic management points, and how measures like that are working for the community and not against them.”
The fire was declared under control at 7pm, and crews remained onsite throughout the night. Thanks to the work of fire crews, the only property lost was a shed with an estimated value of $10,000.
The local fires were part of a concerning day for Victoria, with three major blazes burning out of control.
Mr Christison said residents should ensure they were prepared for the upcoming fire season and that they responded appropriately in an emergency situation.
“We do a lot of work in terms of messaging,” he said.
“Some people proactively take that message on board and other people don’t seem to heed that warning.”
