By Jesse Graham
UPDATE: Wednesday, 7 October
A TWO-hectare fire in Yellingbo that took 60 firefighters some hours to contain was caused by a smouldering burn-off from two weeks ago, according to Yellingbo’s CFA Captain.
On Tuesday 6 October, CFA crews from the Upper Yarra area and through the Dandenong Ranges were called out to a fire on Yellingbo-Macclesfield Road in Yellingbo.
The fire was called in at 1.39pm, after Yellingbo CFA Captain Paul Spinks said a burn-off from two weeks ago flared up in hot, dry and windy weather.
Describing the incident as a “freak accident”, Capt Spinks said that a house was immediately threatened by the blaze, and crews scrambled to its defence.
“It appeared it started from a burn from two weeks prior with green waste,” he said.
“The owners certainly believed it was dormant and that it was all out – it was just terrible luck.
“It did threaten a house very quickly within the first half hour – with Yellingbo and Macclesfield’s appliances, we maintained protection of the house.”
Crews from Yellingbo, Macclesfield, Wandin, Seville and the Dandenong Ranges group of fire brigades rushed to the scene, with 15 vehicles and about 60 firefighters on the scene.
Capt Spinks said the fire was contained to two hectares within the first half hour, and praised the quick-action of the local brigades with preventing the fire from getting worse.
“Even the firefighting models showed this could escalate, based on the area and the temperature,” he said.
“The quick response, quick thinking, water conservation and firefighting technique is what actually contained this fire.
“It was a fantastic effort by the CFA crews – it wouldn’t have been contained if it wasn’t for them.”
At the time of the fire, the temperature in the Yarra Valley was in the mid-30s, with hot northerly winds coming through.
By 2pm, the CFA had issued a Watch and Act warning for the surrounding areas of Yellingbo, Woori Yallock, Wandin East, Hoddles Creek and Macclesfield, asking residents to monitor conditions and revise their bushfire survival plans.
This message was downgraded at 3.29pm, before the all-clear was given later in the afternoon.
Capt Spinks said that green waste, as with green hay, can often retain heat for long periods, as was the case with the Yellingbo fire – the hot and dry conditions of Monday and Tuesday gave the smouldering remnants the chance to flare up.
“It was a freak accident, no doubt about it,” he said.
He said that even when the fire was completely out, a thermal imaging camera registered 150 degrees of heat at the source of the fire – though no smoke was coming from the area.
Capt Spinks said that residents burning off in the lead-up to summer should regularly check on previous burns, to ensure they remained extinguished, and to follow an old saying of ‘safe to touch, safe to leave’.
“Where the fire was, can you physically put your hand on it and feel any heat?” he said.
“It’s a standard camp-fire scenario, and, in all honesty, that’s probably what happened yesterday.
“It’s truly important, if you’ve had a burn-off, to make sure it’s safe to touch and safe to leave.”
Tuesday, 6 October: 3.10PM
THE BUSHFIRE near Yellingbo is now under control, and the CFA has downgraded its Watch and Act warning for the Upper Yarra Valley.
At 3.29pm, the CFA downgraded its Watch and Act warning for Yellingbo, Woori Yallock, Wandin East, Hoddles Creek and Macclesfield.
The downgraded message said that firefighters had stopped the spread of a bushfire on Yellingbo-Macclesfield Road, and that “fire activity has subsided”.
“You are no longer under any threat,” the advice warning read.
The message followed a Watch and Act warning issued at 2pm, when about 10 CFA crews were fighting a small bushfire in the area.
Seville and Macclesfield CFA were some of crews battling the fire, which was hindered by strong winds and dry weather.
Trees and debris were strewn over roads throughout the area at the time of the fire.
Residents are asked to stay informed and monitor conditions, via www.emergency.vic.gov.au, the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (1800 240 667) or through ABC Local Radio.
CFA trucks will continue to patrol the area.
