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Upwey Fires Monday 23rd February 2009 As a volunteer firefighter with Tyabb Fire Brigade, I was part of a strike-team that responded to a scrub fire in Upwey, near Belgrave in the north-east outskirts of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was just after Black Saturday, and everyone was nervous about the fire threat. The weather was extreme. Driving towards the fire was scary. The traffic was chaos; school was just getting out. It was around 3.50pm. The fire was showing up well, and spotting ahead of itself. We're driving mostly on the wrong side of the road, lights and sirens of course! The traffic in front is moving over and not much further up the road was blocked off by police. Our Strike Team, consisting of five tankers, a quickfill unit and a Strike Team Leader's vehicle were deployed into the fire. The wind change arrived, turning the flank of the fire into the new head. We were re-tasked to protect the town in it's path. Then another wind change came through (the second of four wind changes that day!) and the fire was pushed back on itself. We were able to get into the fire and form a control line while Malcolm the Skycrane (cousin to Elvis) came thundering in like some sort of bizarre cavalry. This helicopter, leased from Canada with crew, has been a welcome friend for many fire seasons now. Malcolm holds 10,000 litres of water and has awesome knockdown power. Darkness fell, and there was only glowing embers to show where the fire had been. At midnight we stopped, exhausted. We had some refreshments (drinks and biscuits from the ration packs) and waited to be replaced so we could leave the fireline. We finally came off the fireline around 2.30am, and went to a staging area for a meal and some coffee. I'm in awe of the tireless workers from the Red Cross and the Salvation Army who have wonderful meals ready in an insant. These people were stretched to the max , with relief centers operating in dozens of townships because of the Black Saturday fires. How they found the resources to feed us I'll never know. I had my little Canon Powershot A460 with me and I took these pics  when I could. The camera fits in my top pocket and takes a very good photo. The picture that sums the day up for me is this image of Malcolm the Skycrane in the smoke above the fire: I regularly post my pics in emails to friends and family. Here is some of the feedback I received about these pictures: ...words can not express how I feel,, I am so fkn proud of what you both put into the community... - Sue B.   I think doing this would hopefully be "good for your soul" too... - Sue M.   The pictures themselves are so awesome,  and if it weren't attached to such a tragedy, I would even use the word beautiful. - Sue G.   That midnight one looks bloody scary... - Dave   Great to see your amazing efforts Brad? - Bill   ...tell brad that's awesome, I liked the way he narrated the pics and let me know what was happening. - Kerry   An excellent essay Brad. - M.   Just send anything ..I love all your pics. - Jenny   < Prev | Home | Next >