General News
26 January, 2023
Brigades under pressure to control paddock fire
CFA brigades and Forest Fire Management crews worked to control a fire in Rathscar on Wednesday afternoon, which burnt through more than 20 hectares after a mechanical fault in a header. Fire brigades from Wareek, Natte Yallock, Dunolly, Avoc...
CFA brigades and Forest Fire Management crews worked to control a fire in Rathscar on Wednesday afternoon, which burnt through more than 20 hectares after a mechanical fault in a header.
Fire brigades from Wareek, Natte Yallock, Dunolly, Avoca, Warrenmang and Maryborough, as well as air support and Forest Fire Management turned out to the fire in Scotts Road, Rathscar at around midday Wednesday after a bearing at the front of the machine failed, sparking and igniting the blaze.
Quick thinking by the header driver meant the front attachment, which had caught alight, was detached from the machine — saving several thousand dollars worth of equipment — with the fire burning through approximately 22 hectares of paddock.
Emergency Management Victoria issued an official Advice warning to nearby residents to monitor conditions before the fire was safely brought under control.
Wareek Bung Bong Fire Brigade Captain and incident controller Matthew Ipsen said the fire, which was travelling in a south-westerly direction, was contained fairly quickly.
“The initial crew from Wareek did a very good knock down of the fire and contained the edges,” he said.
“We had the aircraft come in and dump a couple of loads on the fire and the extra crews from surrounding brigades helping mop up were a big help.
“Forest Fire Management and CFA brigades worked well together, crews from both organisations worked very well together.”
Captain Ipsen said the fire had the potential to be worse than it was.
“I think there’s still enough green in the grass that any fires aren’t exploding like they normally would at this time of year,” he said.
“There is still a potential for fires to run at any time, but this fire certainly didn’t have the intensity of other similar fires that have occurred at this time of year.
“A little bit of crop was damaged by the fire but there wasn’t much at all and it didn’t impact neighbours too much.”
Captain Ipsen said the incident served as a reminder of the importance of having firefighting appliances nearby when harvesting.
“It does look like there was an extinguisher on hand with the header and there was a private firefighting unit in the paddock at the same time which was a help,” he said.
“My advice would be to have water on hand if you’re harvesting in case a fire does break out.”
