MERRY CHRISTMAS

Practical Preparation, Positive Action, Pure Survival at Maindample

Media Release Mansfield Group: 14/12/2011

Tom Condon Media liaison Officer Hume Region

Ian Cheeseman, Captain of the Maindample Rural Fire Brigade proposed to the Shire of Mansfield at a recent Municipal Fire Prevention Committee meeting that the Brigade wished to do a burn off around the Maindample Township. Long grass, particularly along the rail trail, presented a real threat to the safety of residents and ‘rail trailers’.

An unqualified agreement to do so was given by the committee and a request to do so as quickly as possible.

Recent rains had provided extensive growth with much of the grass over 150cm high and with no stock now grazing the land due to the rail trail an enormous fuel load had built up.

Ian engaged the services of the shire, Barjarg Rural Fire Brigade, Bonnie Doon Rural Fire Brigade and a number of members with private ‘Slip on” vehicles to ensure the citizenry’s safety during the burn off.

For new Barjarg members it was an introduction to practical asset and people protection.

Set into action about 10 hectares were safely cleared in about 2 hours with no environmental damage as members protected some old trees in primarily grassland.

This activity really highlighted the benefits of Brigades proactively protecting the community. It is a positive side that brigades could well actively promote in the future.

Thanks Ian, three years of lobbying achieved your desire for a safer community.

You really embodied the Prepare, Act, Survive message of the CFA.

Tom Condon

CFA Media Relations Officer

CFA Hume Region

ID 7902661

Ph / Fax 03 57787726

EMail tom2734@bigpond.com

Sonnberg Control

Media Release Mansfield Group: 18 June 2011
Tom Condon Media liaison Officer Hume Region


Diesel fueled large shed fire at Peppin Point

Over 40 CFA firefighters from Bonnie Doon, Merton, Maindample and Mansfield responded to an emergency callout to a large shed fire in Sonnberg Drive Peppin Point late Saturday afternoon.
The fire engulfed a large Denning Coach and a station wagon stored in the shed. The coach had around 1000 litres of diesel that fed the fire and restricted the firefighter efforts to containing the fire for a number of hours. The new Mansfield pumper and specialist crew was brought in to use specialized foam to contain the fire to the 30 metre shed.
Bonnie Doon Breathing Apparatus trained members could not enter the shed due to fears that the concrete brick clad shed might collapse.
“Sonnberg Drive itself presented a hazard to crews attending as recent rain had made the road extremely slippery and required use of 4 WD” said Incident Controller, Captain Stuart Evans of Bonnie Doon Brigade .“ We were out of the station within 3 minutes of the emergency call but not on scene for nearly 30 minutes because of the location and difficult access. Whilst there is a large number of properties in Sonnberg Drive it really is remote for the Brigade, this property is over 20 kilometres from Bonnie Doon in an area with really bad roads and mountainous terrain. Fortunately the property had excellent supplies of water in tanks that we were able to access and draft into the tankers.”
A new home on the site was not damaged. The property has extensive and spectacular views over the High Country and Lake Eildon.
Mansfield ambulance attended and the property owner was conveyed to Mansfield hospital suffering minor burns and some stress related injuries.
Mansfield SES provided portable lighting as the fire burnt into the night.Cause of the fire is under investigation. Police and CFA Fire Investigation from Wangaratta attended and secured the scene.
Damage is estimated to be in excess of $150,000.