Local CFA crews have responded to multiple callouts over the past three weeks.
The Post asked Bass CFA captain Andy Stewart about life on the front line
– and what goes on behind the scenes.
The Post asked Bass CFA captain Andy Stewart about life on the front line
– and what goes on behind the scenes.
Bass CFA members Andrea, Andy, Barry, Marty and Anthony
Bass Coast Post: Where were you when The Gurdies fire started?
Andy Stewart: Frustratingly, I was actually camping in Walkerville with my family, so I couldn’t simply pack up and leave when the fire started. Such is the life of a volunteer firefighter, I guess – sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time, sometimes not! But for better or worse I don’t like to be in the dark when something happens in my absence, so I tend to carry a portable radio with me when I’m out and about. So when The Gurdies fire started, I was able to communicate with members of Bass Brigade and listen to what was happening. Although strangely, I actually had the radio with me in case there was a fire in Walkerville while we were on holidays – which has happened before – not back in Bass Coast.
Andy Stewart: Frustratingly, I was actually camping in Walkerville with my family, so I couldn’t simply pack up and leave when the fire started. Such is the life of a volunteer firefighter, I guess – sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time, sometimes not! But for better or worse I don’t like to be in the dark when something happens in my absence, so I tend to carry a portable radio with me when I’m out and about. So when The Gurdies fire started, I was able to communicate with members of Bass Brigade and listen to what was happening. Although strangely, I actually had the radio with me in case there was a fire in Walkerville while we were on holidays – which has happened before – not back in Bass Coast.
I turned the radio on when the scale of the fire became apparent – and for that the VicEmergency App is invaluable, I’ve gotta say – so I was able to at least make sure that Bass Tanker and Ultralight Tanker were getting out the door and functioning as part of the response. I was initially told not to worry and that everything was okay, but it really took off after that. There were also two car accidents that first evening in Bass… it was a crazy night.
I was on call Christmas Eve and then I joined a Bass Coast Group Strike Team on Boxing Day. The worst of it was well and truly over by then. It was mostly about blacking out and ensuring that nothing had a chance of starting up again.
I was on call Christmas Eve and then I joined a Bass Coast Group Strike Team on Boxing Day. The worst of it was well and truly over by then. It was mostly about blacking out and ensuring that nothing had a chance of starting up again.
Post: A fire scene seems so chaotic. How do you know what to do?
Andy: Obviously, we're trained to perform in these roles, and there are some very experienced firefighters in Bass Coast and the wider CFA district. But it depends on the scale of the incident, really. All fires start out small of course – very small in most cases. If you're the first tanker ‘on scene’ at a fire, one of the important initial tasks is to size up the situation and make the call on whether there are enough appliances converging on the emergency to manage the situation. If not, it’s important to escalate the response quickly. At the Gurdies fire, things escalated almost immediately, and that ultimately prevented the fire being far, far worse. It’s a credit to the countless brigades that responded over the course of the event – and the organisation as a whole – that a larger, more tragic incident was averted.
If you’re the 20th tanker to arrive, by then a much larger command structure is usually in place, and in that situation your truck will be ‘tasked’ when it arrives on scene. Often a larger fire might include the Group Officer, a Regional Commander (or two), and everything from Air Support, to catering and rehab. A small town ‘pops up’ essentially when the scale of the fire grows significantly, and the various volunteer roles grow in scale and variety along with it, and by then it’s as much about managing the scene as it is about fighting the fire.
It's kind of like a chessboard – that’s on fire… There aren’t trucks simply driving around willy-nilly putting out whatever fire is right in front of them. It’s a well-orchestrated, strategic scene that prioritises life and property above all else. Communications is crucial to the success of a firefight like The Gurdies fire, and tankers and air support rely utterly on clear-headed management. There’s always a command centre looking at the bigger picture, deploying ‘assets’ where they’re needed most, or in the case of The Gurdies fire, calling for more.
Andy: Obviously, we're trained to perform in these roles, and there are some very experienced firefighters in Bass Coast and the wider CFA district. But it depends on the scale of the incident, really. All fires start out small of course – very small in most cases. If you're the first tanker ‘on scene’ at a fire, one of the important initial tasks is to size up the situation and make the call on whether there are enough appliances converging on the emergency to manage the situation. If not, it’s important to escalate the response quickly. At the Gurdies fire, things escalated almost immediately, and that ultimately prevented the fire being far, far worse. It’s a credit to the countless brigades that responded over the course of the event – and the organisation as a whole – that a larger, more tragic incident was averted.
If you’re the 20th tanker to arrive, by then a much larger command structure is usually in place, and in that situation your truck will be ‘tasked’ when it arrives on scene. Often a larger fire might include the Group Officer, a Regional Commander (or two), and everything from Air Support, to catering and rehab. A small town ‘pops up’ essentially when the scale of the fire grows significantly, and the various volunteer roles grow in scale and variety along with it, and by then it’s as much about managing the scene as it is about fighting the fire.
It's kind of like a chessboard – that’s on fire… There aren’t trucks simply driving around willy-nilly putting out whatever fire is right in front of them. It’s a well-orchestrated, strategic scene that prioritises life and property above all else. Communications is crucial to the success of a firefight like The Gurdies fire, and tankers and air support rely utterly on clear-headed management. There’s always a command centre looking at the bigger picture, deploying ‘assets’ where they’re needed most, or in the case of The Gurdies fire, calling for more.
At The Gurdies, wind was a major factor that added to the complexity and unpredictability of that situation. When the fire jumped Gurdies St Hellier Road, it happened quickly, and again it’s a credit to the crews on scene that there wasn’t more damage done to properties in the area. Bass tanker was on St Hellier Road at that point, thanks to good management, and it was one of the tankers that was able to effectively save the winery. I should demand a bottle of wine from Bruce (the owner)… but I don’t drink! (laughs)
Post: There were plenty of comments after The Gurdies fire, and signs thanking the firefighters.
Andy: I saw the sign on St Hellier Road that I think you’re referring to, and we’re always grateful for the outpouring of support and generosity that comes out in situations like this. It’s great. Although, I always have mixed feelings tucked away in the back of my mind somewhere when I see signs like that. To me, while thanking ‘firies’ is great, somehow signs like that imply that we’re somehow separate from the community, rather than part of it, as if we’re from somewhere else or at least distinct somehow from the community around us. We’re not a mysterious group that appears out of nowhere when there's a fire or a car accident. We are the community… all of us. We’re not distinct from it at all!
Andy: I saw the sign on St Hellier Road that I think you’re referring to, and we’re always grateful for the outpouring of support and generosity that comes out in situations like this. It’s great. Although, I always have mixed feelings tucked away in the back of my mind somewhere when I see signs like that. To me, while thanking ‘firies’ is great, somehow signs like that imply that we’re somehow separate from the community, rather than part of it, as if we’re from somewhere else or at least distinct somehow from the community around us. We’re not a mysterious group that appears out of nowhere when there's a fire or a car accident. We are the community… all of us. We’re not distinct from it at all!
That to me is what stops more people joining the CFA – thinking that we’re somehow separate from the community. Almost anyone can become a CFA member, and if you think you’ve got nothing to offer, or you’re too busy, think again! Everyone’s too busy, including me! What we need is hundreds of people like me who are ‘too busy to join’. If we had that we’d be laughing!
I’m a record producer by trade, and a writer, with a recording studio, a small farm and two kids, as well as a job mixing all the gigs at Archies Creek Hotel. And being the captain of a local brigade is time consuming in itself, even before I get on the truck! Do you think I have time? Not really… No one has! Is it a reason not to join? No!
The only way volunteering works is when a whole stack of people who ‘don't have the time’ get involved and contribute what they can – many hands make light work in the end.
I’m a record producer by trade, and a writer, with a recording studio, a small farm and two kids, as well as a job mixing all the gigs at Archies Creek Hotel. And being the captain of a local brigade is time consuming in itself, even before I get on the truck! Do you think I have time? Not really… No one has! Is it a reason not to join? No!
The only way volunteering works is when a whole stack of people who ‘don't have the time’ get involved and contribute what they can – many hands make light work in the end.
Post: Not everyone in the CFA has to go out and fight fires…
Andy: No, and Wednesday afternoon’s fire in Wonthaggi was a good example of just that. A bunch of brigades fought that fire – significantly smaller than The Gurdies fire of course, but not insignificant either. But by the time Bass tanker left the scene for a meal break on the outskirts of town, there were half a dozen volunteers managing the rehab and handing out food etc. These are the members that deserve the most thanks and praise in many ways. They do a huge amount of work in the background, and it’s a truly thankless task. They're fulfilling an equally important role, albeit a seemingly less glamorous one. I admire these members the most.
That’s what’s important to understand about CFA volunteers – they perform all sorts of roles. Not everyone who becomes a CFA member fights a fire. There are countless other important roles, and without people fulfilling them all, the whole thing goes to pieces. Bass brigade, like many others around the State, is a typical example of that. We’re always looking for new members, but we don’t need them all to be active firefighters. So if people want to join a brigade like Bass – but can’t imagine getting on a truck and performing physically in the heat – they’ll still be most welcome! There are all kinds of roles. If we had more people we could hand over specific tasks like communications, Facebooking, running sausage sizzles at the market, managing the brigade’s finances. It all takes time…
Large fires are newsworthy, of course, but the longer story is CFA volunteering more generally and how the CFA will function into the future. To my mind, there aren’t enough women in the CFA by a long stretch, and there's not enough diversity of age either. Bass Coast Group is making a concerted effort at the moment to be more inclusive, and we’re determined to address the gender imbalance and lack of younger people joining brigades. For CFA to survive and thrive into the future we have to include everyone. It will improve how we think, how we act and how we perform under pressure.
Post: How do you balance the demands on your own time?
Andy: That's a really difficult one at times. It's very hard to navigate actually. As an example, on Wednesday I was in Wonthaggi having lunch with friends along with my wife and two kids when a fire started on the south-east side of town. When things escalated, eventually Bass tanker was called upon to help, but when the call came through, everyone was scattered to the four winds. I was in Wonthaggi, Barry Dakin was on his tractor on a far-flung paddock on his farm some miles away, Steve Craven was halfway to Melbourne and the whereabouts of other members was unknown. I had a strong sense that the town might potentially be under threat, so I made the decision to drive back to Bass and get the truck! That's the problem of having too few volunteers – there’s not enough hands to lighten the load. But volunteers can’t be expected to stay at home waiting for a call to come through! We’ve all got lives too, of course! So, yeah, it’s very difficult at times, not just for me, but for my wife and kids too. The 2am callouts are probably the worst … getting on a truck in the middle of the night is tough.
Andy: No, and Wednesday afternoon’s fire in Wonthaggi was a good example of just that. A bunch of brigades fought that fire – significantly smaller than The Gurdies fire of course, but not insignificant either. But by the time Bass tanker left the scene for a meal break on the outskirts of town, there were half a dozen volunteers managing the rehab and handing out food etc. These are the members that deserve the most thanks and praise in many ways. They do a huge amount of work in the background, and it’s a truly thankless task. They're fulfilling an equally important role, albeit a seemingly less glamorous one. I admire these members the most.
That’s what’s important to understand about CFA volunteers – they perform all sorts of roles. Not everyone who becomes a CFA member fights a fire. There are countless other important roles, and without people fulfilling them all, the whole thing goes to pieces. Bass brigade, like many others around the State, is a typical example of that. We’re always looking for new members, but we don’t need them all to be active firefighters. So if people want to join a brigade like Bass – but can’t imagine getting on a truck and performing physically in the heat – they’ll still be most welcome! There are all kinds of roles. If we had more people we could hand over specific tasks like communications, Facebooking, running sausage sizzles at the market, managing the brigade’s finances. It all takes time…
Large fires are newsworthy, of course, but the longer story is CFA volunteering more generally and how the CFA will function into the future. To my mind, there aren’t enough women in the CFA by a long stretch, and there's not enough diversity of age either. Bass Coast Group is making a concerted effort at the moment to be more inclusive, and we’re determined to address the gender imbalance and lack of younger people joining brigades. For CFA to survive and thrive into the future we have to include everyone. It will improve how we think, how we act and how we perform under pressure.
Post: How do you balance the demands on your own time?
Andy: That's a really difficult one at times. It's very hard to navigate actually. As an example, on Wednesday I was in Wonthaggi having lunch with friends along with my wife and two kids when a fire started on the south-east side of town. When things escalated, eventually Bass tanker was called upon to help, but when the call came through, everyone was scattered to the four winds. I was in Wonthaggi, Barry Dakin was on his tractor on a far-flung paddock on his farm some miles away, Steve Craven was halfway to Melbourne and the whereabouts of other members was unknown. I had a strong sense that the town might potentially be under threat, so I made the decision to drive back to Bass and get the truck! That's the problem of having too few volunteers – there’s not enough hands to lighten the load. But volunteers can’t be expected to stay at home waiting for a call to come through! We’ve all got lives too, of course! So, yeah, it’s very difficult at times, not just for me, but for my wife and kids too. The 2am callouts are probably the worst … getting on a truck in the middle of the night is tough.
After working long shifts during the Gurdies fire, crews were out in force again on Wednesday to control a grass and scrub fire on the edge of Wonthaggi.
Post: There are clearly enormous costs to being in the CFA but is there also a sense of satisfaction?
Andy: It sounds clichéd and stupid, but being in a position to help people when they need it most urgently (sometimes in tragic circumstances), actually feels like a privilege.
I remember a bad car accident near the Bass servo a few years ago where there was a huge number of emergency services vehicles and personnel involved, including the air ambulance. To the trapped occupants, I can only imagine how terrifying it must have seemed. One of my roles that day was to support an experienced paramedic (and close friend of mine) – Robin Lowe – who was treating a trapped woman from the passenger side. I held her drip while he treated her.
She was unconscious at the time, but regardless, I spoke to her while all this was all going on, trying to reassure her – just in case she could hear me. I explained who I was, who Robin was, that she was safe and being cared for by one of the best paramedics in the State. There was a huge infrastructure of emergency services around her, cocooning her, and I was trying to reassure her that things were only going to get better from this moment onwards. Whether she heard any of it, who knows, but either way I felt privileged to be in that position with her at that moment in time.
It's not a heroic position, it's a privileged position, and its significant to be able to contribute to the community when the need arises.
Post: I know you don't like that word ‘heroic’. Please explain.
Andy: I think when people use that word it infers that we're putting ourselves in danger on someone else's behalf, but that’s almost never the case. People who think like ‘heroes’ can often think impetuously and in rare cases, get killed – obviously we're trying to avoid that. It's a tricky word that others are quick to use but I don’t think it applies to what we do at all, and I don’t know anyone in CFA who would claim to be one. It also implies that we perform this role with bravado, or recklessly, but that’s never the case. Nor is it remotely why any of us is doing it. I don’t know anyone in CFA who uses the word, quite frankly. The only time it’s used is when someone else says it.
Andy: It sounds clichéd and stupid, but being in a position to help people when they need it most urgently (sometimes in tragic circumstances), actually feels like a privilege.
I remember a bad car accident near the Bass servo a few years ago where there was a huge number of emergency services vehicles and personnel involved, including the air ambulance. To the trapped occupants, I can only imagine how terrifying it must have seemed. One of my roles that day was to support an experienced paramedic (and close friend of mine) – Robin Lowe – who was treating a trapped woman from the passenger side. I held her drip while he treated her.
She was unconscious at the time, but regardless, I spoke to her while all this was all going on, trying to reassure her – just in case she could hear me. I explained who I was, who Robin was, that she was safe and being cared for by one of the best paramedics in the State. There was a huge infrastructure of emergency services around her, cocooning her, and I was trying to reassure her that things were only going to get better from this moment onwards. Whether she heard any of it, who knows, but either way I felt privileged to be in that position with her at that moment in time.
It's not a heroic position, it's a privileged position, and its significant to be able to contribute to the community when the need arises.
Post: I know you don't like that word ‘heroic’. Please explain.
Andy: I think when people use that word it infers that we're putting ourselves in danger on someone else's behalf, but that’s almost never the case. People who think like ‘heroes’ can often think impetuously and in rare cases, get killed – obviously we're trying to avoid that. It's a tricky word that others are quick to use but I don’t think it applies to what we do at all, and I don’t know anyone in CFA who would claim to be one. It also implies that we perform this role with bravado, or recklessly, but that’s never the case. Nor is it remotely why any of us is doing it. I don’t know anyone in CFA who uses the word, quite frankly. The only time it’s used is when someone else says it.
Post: Is it safe to enter the burnt forest?
Andy: At the Gurdies? Definitely not! There are a lot of very badly burnt trees in there that, from a distance, may look sound enough. But in many cases, they're not. There will be a tendency for people to want to go in rubbernecking or wanting to see the state of the burned area. My advice would be to stay away!
That might seem like an overly-protective statement, but the danger of falling trees is very real, and I would implore people to stay out of the burnt bush. Buy some binoculars if you want to look at it up close! A neighbour of mine, Bill Slade, was killed by a falling tree in the 2019-20 fires. He was a legend of Parks Victoria and very well known in this area. That was a real tragedy, and I owe it to his memory to keep that danger at the forefront of my mind, and in the minds of others.
Some of those burnt trees and branches will certainly fall in high wind, but they can also fall at any time without warning. For the time being, take your binoculars and look at it from a distance.
Like most CFA units, the Bass brigade needs volunteers for a range of roles. Think you can help? Andy Stewart will be at the Save Western Port Woodlands ceremony in The Gurdies on Saturday morning and is happy to discuss.
Andy: At the Gurdies? Definitely not! There are a lot of very badly burnt trees in there that, from a distance, may look sound enough. But in many cases, they're not. There will be a tendency for people to want to go in rubbernecking or wanting to see the state of the burned area. My advice would be to stay away!
That might seem like an overly-protective statement, but the danger of falling trees is very real, and I would implore people to stay out of the burnt bush. Buy some binoculars if you want to look at it up close! A neighbour of mine, Bill Slade, was killed by a falling tree in the 2019-20 fires. He was a legend of Parks Victoria and very well known in this area. That was a real tragedy, and I owe it to his memory to keep that danger at the forefront of my mind, and in the minds of others.
Some of those burnt trees and branches will certainly fall in high wind, but they can also fall at any time without warning. For the time being, take your binoculars and look at it from a distance.
Like most CFA units, the Bass brigade needs volunteers for a range of roles. Think you can help? Andy Stewart will be at the Save Western Port Woodlands ceremony in The Gurdies on Saturday morning and is happy to discuss.