Fire crews in fierce battle to save house
FIREFIGHTERS from 11 brigades were needed to save an Acton Park home from incineration after a fierce scrub fire came within metres of it yesterday.
Paul Baker, the first responding officer from Lauderdale Fire Brigade said if it hadn’t been for a barrier of succulent pig face plants in front of the home, the fire, which ripped through a stand of she oaks, could have easily set the home alight.
“Conditions were tricky, it was gusting 25-30km/h,” he said.
“The crews did a really good job to protect the house.”
Mr Baker said the 2-3m high she oaks with a grass understory on a steep hillside had channelled the fire toward the home, which had to be defended by units from Sandford, Rokeby, Lauderdale and Seven Mile Beach to name a few.
A water bombing helicopter was also called in to combat the fire in thick inaccessible territory near the bottom of the hill.
Tara Drive resident Philip Ducat, whose property was not touched by the fire, which moved in from the Clarendon Vale direction said firefighters had done a fantastic job of controlling it, by about 3pm.
“Their response was prompt, they did an unbelievable job,’’ said Mr Ducat, who had raised the alarm at about 11.30am.
“I was mowing lawns ... the dog was barking for no apparent reason. I saw the fire when I moved from one side of the house to the other to mow the front lawn,” he said.
“It could have jumped on to our place,’’ he said.
The occupant of the home, which was saved by firefighters yesterday, declined to comment.