Sampson Flat bushfire history book reveals the 100 lessons learnt

From the ashes of the devastating 2015 Sampson Flat bushfire, a new book details 100 stories – and the lessons people learnt.

Traumatised by their harrowing experience in the Sampson Flat bushfire in January 2015, two friends have published a book with 100 personal accounts of lessons learnt in the disaster.

Historian Jan Verrall and nurse Denise Elland, of Upper Hermitage in the Adelaide Hills, hope it will help their community heal and also reflect on what the fire has taught them, so they can be better prepared next time.

While neither of the women lost their homes, Mrs Verrall will never forget wat­ching her old vineyard go up in flames.

Denise Elland and Jan Verrall with their new book ‘Sampson Flat Bushfire, January 2015, A History: 100 Individual Accounts of Lessons Learned’, pictured at a burnt ruin. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“It just started raining fire into the vineyard, which had lots of high grass because it hadn’t been worked for several years,” she said.

“We’d watched each row of vines burn, coming down the hill. One row would burn 10-15 feet into the air, and then the fire would jump into the next row.

“And then the water bom­ber came and there was nothing. No flames, no smoke. It was amazing just to see that.”

Mrs Verrall’s family had subdivided and sold the vineyard seven years earlier, but retained the cottage, which they saved.

Even though it wasn’t her vineyard any more, she still felt the loss deeply. She took photos and wrote in a journal, but nothing helped.

“I was in a hole; I couldn't climb that ladder,” she said. “I think I was mourning.”

Almost two years later, after having counselling for post-traumatic stress, the idea came to write a book.

Denise and Jan Verrall fundraising for their book in 2018,

The women interviewed residents, CFS staff and volunteers – anyone who was willing to talk.

“At an interview, you’d have these adults who were sobbing, males or females, and you’d have to get tissues out, too, crying with them, sobbing with them. But it was a release. And it helped me,” Mrs Verrall said.

“There are so many people who didn’t do the interview that possibly should have, but they couldn’t face it again in their mind.”

The bushfire destroyed 25 homes, 146 outbuildings and many horticultural and small businesses. Fortunately, no human lives were lost but 142 people were injured.

Despite the risk of another disaster, Mrs Elland says she wouldn’t live anywhere else. She loves the country feel and fresh air and is surrounded by friends and family: “I’ve lived here since I was 10 years old.”

The Sampson Flat Bushfire History book costs $50 plus postage. Contact [e-mail] to order. All proceeds from book sales are being donated to the SA CFS.

Sampson Flat bushfire CFS location map (9/01/2015) showing area burnt and fire perimeter. Credit: CFS.