By Lucy Waldron
“It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” “Horrendous”, and “distressing” are some of the words First Officer of Sugarloaf Rural Fire Brigade, James Massey used about the Dalveen fire of last week.
That first night at 12am on Tuesday 31 is when James and his crew first got called out to fight the Dalveen fire.
They did not realise how bad the fire they were driving towards really was until they were in the thick of it.
From then on James went out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to battle the fire that was putting up a good fight.
“I think the biggest emotion I felt was realising all the people who were losing their livelihood in their livestock and everything else,” James said.
The Dalveen fire burned for five days, it was brought under control on Friday and was only fully put out by the rain over the weekend.
But the three days it was not under control for, it tore through the area with the wind at its back.
“In most cases, the wind would die down in the afternoon, but still at 3am, it was blowing a gale from all directions,” James said.
“I’ve never seen wind like it.
“This was the fastest-running fire I have ever seen.”
Echoing the events of Black Summer but already at a higher scale, James said it is taking a toll on the volunteers.
“I believe, because we have fuel now from the rains, that it is looking worse than 2019 when we were in drought,” he said.
It is preferred the firefighters get a 12-hour break between being on the fire line and these fires have not allowed for this rest period which is “not a good thing”.
“They aren’t doing any favours by not resting properly and being tired out there, but we have been flat out,” James said.
As First Officer, it is James’ responsibility to make sure his crew are safe, they make it home and no mistakes are made by taking unnecessary risks.
But being out in the thick of the fire also affects James despite his duties.
“It is really distressing seeing animals being killed or the livestock that will starve because their feed has been burnt.
“You can’t do anything for them and on Tuesday night, the fire was moving so fast they weren’t able to run away,” James said.
As someone who lives on the land and lost his home to fires in 1991, James resonates significantly with how the fires affect everything around them.
“It’s a very empty feeling because you have just lost all the memories and all the things that make you who you are,” he said.
There is little that can be done to prepare now as back burning is no longer allowed, but James stressed that clearing yards and ensuring there aren’t places for embers to easily ignite will help.
A couple of overgrown plants may be the difference between losing or saving your home.
Keep up to date with all the fire warnings at www.qfes.qld.gov.au/Current-Incidents
