By Renee Wood
Healesville Fire Brigade members have travelled to assist in the Flowerdale grassfire with hundreds of volunteers battling the blaze that has scorched more than 840 hectares with a fire radius of 24 kilometres.
On Tuesday 21 February when the fire first began, Healesville volunteers and the brigade’s Ultra-light tanker were requested.
Specifically, the Ultra-Light tanker was required due to the nature of the vehicle being smaller than other tankers, allowing it to get into narrow and dense areas.
5th Lieutenant Cliff Overton said up to five members have assisted while they wait on standby for more requests from the Maroondah taskforce.
Lt Overton was one of the members who responded on Tuesday and said they were on asset protection.
“We were working together to defend a farmhouse on Spring Valley Road and we worked well together to save the house,” he said.
Lt Overton said the Healesville community should be proud that the Ultra-Light tanker was a community fundraised vehicle, being built specifically for the Healesville brigade.
The small sized vehicle was first needed to be able to get into tight driveways and now has seen a flow on affect of being useful in making it through tight forested areas.
“The Healesville community should be quite proud they fundraised for a truck that’s now being used to assist the Flowerdale community and others,” he said.
While there is a wind change expected, local crews are also on high alert to what could unveil over the next coming days with the heatwave and strong gusts.
Lt Overton said it’s always a risk with the area dry with plenty of grassed areas in surrounding locations.
“We’ve been paying close attention and have been practicing for it.”
Members have now returned back to Healesville, although the Ultra-Light tanker has been left on scene for other CFA volunteers to use in the firefighting efforts.
