• Contact Us
Thursday, July 3, 2025
  • Login
  • Home
  • The Sound of Asia
  • Living in Asia
  • Top Stories
  • Entertainment News
  • Celebrity News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • The Sound of Asia
  • Living in Asia
  • Top Stories
  • Entertainment News
  • Celebrity News
No Result
View All Result
Sound Asia
No Result
View All Result

East Gippsland volunteer firefighters share stories

by Sound News
February 28, 2020
Reading Time: 6 mins read
0
firefighters
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

[ad_1]

Posted

January 09, 2020 05:05:11

A firefighter wearing a yellow safety jacket and holding a hardhat leans on a firetruck with a serious expression.
Photo:

Johnsonville CFA captain Chris Seymour said the fires had brought him and other firefighters to tears. (ABC News: Billy Draper)

Related Story:
Firefighter doing ‘incredibly critical work’ confirmed as third person killed in Victorian fires
Related Story:
Thousands of volunteers ‘caught in red tape’ backlog trying to rejoin firefighting efforts

They’re the volunteers on the frontline of Australia’s horror hearth season.

At Johnsonville, a small hamlet between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland, CFA members have been battling blazes for months.

RELATED STORIES

Kim Soo-hyun: Actor denies allegations by Kim Sae-ron's family – BBC

GloRilla’s 7 Best Music Videos That Defined Her Rise To Fame – Rap-Up

June 2, 2025
Kim Soo-hyun: Actor denies allegations by Kim Sae-ron's family – BBC

Joshlin Smith sentencing: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother – BBC

May 29, 2025

They have been known as in for 24-hour shifts and labored in fires stretching as far-off as Coffs Harbour, greater than 1,000km to the north.

Chris Seymour is the captain on the Johnsonville hearth station.

When the temperatures in East Gippsland spiked final Monday, Chris labored for a whole day and night time.

“We had a reasonably intense expertise on that Monday when the fires got here by way of,” he stated.

His brigade was despatched to a fireplace at Mossiface, south-west of Bruthen.

Two men stand side by side talking, both of them wear the same blue fire brigade cap.
Photo:

Captain Chris Seymour said long shifts meant some volunteers got as little as two hours sleep before heading out again. (ABC News: Billy Draper)

“I noticed helicopters work I reckon about as laborious as I’ve ever seen them work, there was about six of them in the back of Mossiface after which one other 5 – 6 vehicles making an attempt to spherical up a grass hearth to cease it coming into city,” he stated.

“Which they did fairly profitable however then there have been different areas we did not get to and received fairly severely impacted and homes misplaced.”

The impacts of this fireplace season have been devastating for CFA members to witness.

“I’m not ashamed to say I’ve shed a tear, there can be many others within the brigade who’ve performed the identical factor,” the Johnsonville captain stated.

However there have additionally been some massive wins on this already lengthy hearth season.

Volunteer Dave Ward described his “proud dad” feeling when properties have been saved final Monday.

“I do know particularly one property that we went and had a glance it at and to be fairly sincere with you, the best way the hearth was travelling up the embankment I believed we might lose that home,” he stated.

“I received on the radio for the tankers to come back up however I wasn’t assured.

“To the group’s credit score, they only labored their bums off and did actually magnificent work and have been in a position to cease the unfold and save the home.”

Bill Draper sits backwards on a chair leaning on its back, resting his head on his hand, and wearing a a blue cap t-shirt.
Photo:

CFA volunteer Dave Ward said recent fire behaviour had been unpredictable and irregular. (ABC News: Billy Draper)

It was an enormous achievement for firefighters who have been coping with hearth behaviour that the skilled volunteer stated he had by no means seen earlier than.

“It simply went in opposition to what it will usually do, it even travelled in opposition to the wind,” he stated.

With Gippsland experiencing some cooler climate prior to now few days, firefighters have used the reprieve to construct hearth breaks, relaxation and put together for the anticipated temperature spike later within the week.

Bob Bassett, one other volunteer within the Johnsonville brigade, has been with the CFA since 1969.

“This one is one out of the field, we have now had some nasty fires right here. Proper again to 1965 one got here proper to the again of us right here and the wind shifted away, however that is the primary time it has come by way of and worn out just about all of East Gippsland,” he stated.

A group of people stand with hands clasped in front of them look up at the camera with a large garage behind them.
Photo:

Johnsonville CFA firefighters have been working around the clock to save homes and keep communities safe. (ABC News: Billy Draper)

“That is the one that actually threatened all our communities down within the decrease nation.”

He’s one other volunteer who has been logging lengthy hours to assist defend his neighborhood.

“You need to tempo your self, Monday was a type of days the place it was all arms on deck, we labored by way of from early within the morning proper by way of it was about 2:00am the next morning, we knocked off from right here,” he stated.

“However the pager calls early within the morning, three:50am and we’re again off the bed and again on deck right here.”

Fatigue administration has already change into a difficulty the brigade has needed to handle.

The brigade was taken off responsibility for 36 hours after final week’s massive days to permit firefighters to relaxation, whereas their colleagues taken care of the area.

Captain Chris Seymour stated volunteers wanted the possibility to spend time with their households and meet work obligations.

He works in a household enterprise, with different relations protecting issues working, whereas Chris heads out to the fires.

Chris stated that help and the assist of his spouse Tanya and daughters Caitlin, Lily and Ayla have been essential.

Tanya Seymour twice packed up her kids and evacuated their Metung home final week whereas her husband was away preventing fires.

She stated not figuring out precisely the place her husband was whereas he was away preventing fires had been tough.

Chris Seymour kneels with his wife and three daughters behind him and his youngest daughter's hand on his shoulder.
Photo:

CFA captain Chris Seymour said he wouldn’t be able to be a volunteer without the staunch support of his family. (ABC News: Billy Draper )

“You do not have a lot contact with him whereas he’s really preventing the fires, so you’re type of thirsty for any data you will get whereas he’s out,” she stated.

“The youngsters fear a bit, they get a bit burdened about him being away, his security greater than anything.”

Chris’ three daughters have one very clear message that they ship to their dad every day he goes out to the hearth entrance.

“We at all times inform him that he’s not allowed to say ‘she’ll be proper’, no ‘she’ll be rights’,” on the hearth entrance, Caitlin Seymour stated.

The ladies need their dad house safely.

With that recommendation in thoughts, Chris Seymour and his Johnsonville brigade will proceed defending communities from hearth as this lengthy and lethal hearth season stretches on.

Subjects:

disasters-and-accidents,

fires,

community-and-society,

johnsonville-3902,

vic,

shepparton-3630,

mallacoota-3892,

coffs-harbour-2450,

bairnsdale-3875,

corryong-3707

[ad_2]

Source link

About Us

We bring you the best Premium Website that perfect for entertainment, celebrity news, living in Asia and music blog, etc. Check our categories blogs for details.

Recent Stories

  • Asia’s Brightest Stars: The Women Who Served Couture and Culture at Cannes 2025 – MEGA Magazine
  • How To Make Your Own Sound On Tiktok 2020 – mis-asia.com

Categories

  • Celebrity News
  • Entertainment News
  • Living in Asia
  • The Sound of Asia
  • Top Stories

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Copyright - Premium Website for Sound of Asia news & blogs.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “ACCEPT ALL”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsREJECT ALLACCEPT ALL
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • The Sound of Asia
  • Top Stories
  • Living in Asia
  • Entertainment News
  • Celebrity News