Everyone was up that night when I walked in the door at
a latte for smoko. Sadly, I silently knew of his new orders
I was going out as pump operator and driver. We drove
home. The atmosphere was very different. I got a hug
without a word being spoken. It would be a difficult task
for ¾ of an hour. Talking between the three units dried up
and a kiss off both my kids and my wife. We talked for a
for those boys. It was a job I couldn’t have done.
when we hit the southern end of the Cascade fire scar.
while about the impact that would be felt after the loss of
Some of the Fire and Rescue crew had been working
lives and the sadness that was going to be coming in the
The Perth guys and girls were a welcome sight as they
in this area for days now, running food and protection
months, possibly years to follow and finally went to bed
rolled in off the Merivale Road down past our positions.
details for other Government agencies. We had to drive
to sleep for a few hours. We were told that the Perth crews
Andrew then told us we were now officially relieved to go
past the accident scene to get to our call. It was all
would be here in the morning and we would be all stood
water and fuel up and put our gear back on station and
very quiet in the truck as we took in the devastation and
down for a rest, so go home and take it easy.
stand down. It was now about 10:30 am.
the sad loss of life, the realisation that no one will truly understand or comprehend the last thoughts of the four
Well, remember I had destroyed my boots at the dozer,
lost souls.
6:30am. I was startled awake by the phone ringing
so when running and dragging hoses into the scrub for
alongside my bed, with John saying, “the crews aren’t
the boys this morning, I’d stepped on a stake and it
The two Station Officers spoke to Dave for a few minutes
out there for a couple of hours and Andrew’s had a hop
had gone through my right boot and into the sole of my
when we got there and asked a lot of direct questions,
over - can you man the truck? I’m trying to find another
foot between my big toe and its mate. It needed to be
then we all drove up to the sheds. When we hopped out of
crew member.”
removed, a couple of hours at the hospital then around to
the units I explained to one of the S.O.’s who David was.
“John leave it with me,” was my reply. I’d been talking
the Doctor’s, just to dig out a bloody splinter. Talk about
He was a bit taken back by my attitude, but the S.O. and
to my mate the night before and he’d been stood down
feeling like a tool. That cost me a couple of coffees and
I managed to walk Dave away from the rest of the crew
as well, so I contacted Sharpie and we went out for a
a few jokes at my expense.
and asked him how he was going. He had taken a lot
few hours to help. It wasn’t a large hop over but we put it
on himself and when asked if he had spoken to anyone
out. Dragging hoses then cutting fences for the machine,
I dropped back into the control point at the co-location
his answer broke my heart. T.V. crews and reporters. The
we managed to get a bare earth break around it. While
building which was a hive of activity. I told Loni and
S.O. backed me up and could now understand where
we were refilling the water tank out on the road, Sharpie
Matt what had happened and was issued new boots
I was coming from, telling Dave the Padre would be in
took a phone call. He looked at me and said he had
on the spot. An old habit, but I carry both sets of fire
touch.
to go. Funny how when you work closely with someone
gear over summer and a call had just come in about a
We could all see there was no problem with any fire and
you can pick up their mood changes. He just said, “This
contaminated site and chemical fire out on a property
we remounted our trucks and left, leaving all our drinks
aint good.” We bid each other farewell, while Gary and
west of Scaddan. From my local knowledge I picked it
and supplies with the very tired and emotionally drained
I pulled the piss out of him saying he had to go and get
straight away as Campbell’s property.
farm hands.
ian hartley | pg 39