Hundreds flee

By Melissa Grant
AT least 10 houses were lost and hundreds of residents fled their homes as a deliberately lit blaze in the Bunyip State Park burned out of control.
Firefighters faced conditions on Saturday that have been described as like those of Ash Wednesday – a declaration that sent a chill down the spine of locals who remembered the 1983 tragedy.
Authorities believe a firebug was responsible for the weekend’s inferno that burnt out 24,500 hectares of public and private land.
The death toll from the weekend’s fires across Victoria is expected to reach 200 but nobody was killed as a result of the Bunyip State Park blaze.
While the immediate threat has passed, the CFA has warned residents to remain on high alert with the blaze expected to burn for weeks, possibly months.
Communities near the Bunyip State Park came under fire on Saturday as hot north-easterly winds and soaring temperatures fanned the fire towards the Princes Highway.
Lisa Hicks, CFA Brigade Administration Support Officer for Cardinia Central, said firefighters feared the worst.
“I went through Ash Wednesday and it was a mirror image,” she said.
“We were very lucky we didn’t lose anyone – if there is one aim for the day that’s it.”
The blaze broke containment lines at 3.30am on Saturday when unexpected local westerly winds hit. And firefighters later fought spot fires 15km ahead of the inferno.
“Very early on Saturday morning it took off from us,” Ms Hicks said.
“It was extremely fast.”
Eighteen strike teams, incorporating 90 CFA trucks and aerial water bombers, battled the blaze, which got to within one kilometre of the Princes Highway and even closer to transmission lines.
Police blocked off dozens of roads, including the Princes Highway, to traffic because of the unpredictable nature of the inferno.
During Saturday afternoon the sky was black around Drouin and thick smoke blanketed several towns, including Pakenham.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson, who decided to stay and defend his family home in Tonimbuk, said massive fireballs “burst” as they hit trees.
“It was scary, it was the closest I’ve been to a bushfire,” he said.
The Tonimbuk home of a man in his 80s was lost, and at least nine others also burnt to the ground in Longwarry, Labertouche, Drouin West, Jindivick and Warragul.
The CFA’s general manager of Western Port area, Peter Schmidt, said that while some fires in the Bunyip State Park were sparked by lightning strikes, others close to tracks – including the major fire that started off Bunyip Ridge Road – were the work of a firebug.
“We believe the arsonist was working under the cover of lightning,” Mr Schmidt said.
Detective Sergeant Phil Jury, of Pakenham’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU), said arsonists could face a maximum of 25 years’ jail for starting a bushfire.
They could also expect other charges to be laid if property was destroyed or the blaze was started with the intention of killing someone, Det Sgt Jury said.
Mr Schmidt urged residents to stay alert while the fire continued to burn in the State Park.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Bunyip State Park area is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.