A busy day for Healesville CFA

Seven CFA units responded to the shed fire on Merlin Street in Chum Creek at around 1.21pm. Picture: DONGYUN KWON

By Dongyun Kwon

Healesville CFA had several call-outs all day on Monday 6 November.

The first call-out was a shed fire on Merlin Street in Chum Creek at around 1.21pm.

Healesville CFA captain Brian Earl said multiple CFA units were on the site to help put the fire out.

“A shed detached from the house was fully alight when we arrived and crews worked pretty quickly to gain access to the shed to put the fire out which was spreading to a nearby car in the house,” he said.

Seven CFA units responded to the fire including the units from Bayswater, Healesville, Coldstream and Yellingbo.

Mr Earl said each brigade supported his team in a different way.

“Bayswater came up to help us fill up the bore and maintain our breathing apparatus stuff which fireys wear on the back to keep clean air. So they come up to refill those cylinders,” he said.

“Yellingbo did a rehab unit, which is basically designed for crew welfare doing health monitoring and hydration.

“Coldstream was a pumper. They’re just a normal brigade that came up to give us a hand.”

The incident was under control at 2.15pm.

The second call-out was a burn-off down the River Street around 10.20pm.

Mr Earl asked landowners to keep a good close eye on burn-offs.

“We’ve had a bit of a run lately of burn-offs getting out of control. Other brigades also had the same issue,” he said.

“So I just want to remind the general public that if they are burning off, double-check the forecast for the days after and make sure to register the burn-offs.”

The last one was two false alarms from RACV Healesville Country Club and Resort at 11.06pm and 2.35am the next morning.

“Normal crews from Healesville and Badger Creek responded to an alarm at RACV and it was a false alarm. We did unnecessary paperwork and returned it. A handful of hours later, we called back there again,” Mr Earl said.

It was a busy 24 hours for Healesville CFA from a house fire to burn-off to two alarms.