CFS flies in their ‘eye in the sky’ to help keep the Adelaide Hills safe over summer; Community marks a year since fire

About 300 people gathered at Lobethal Oval on Sunday to mark one year since the Cudlee Creek bushfires – remembering the losses but celebrating the recovery.

The Lobethal community came together on Sunday to mark the one-year anniversary of the Cudlee Creek bushfire. Picture: Dean Martin

Lobethal residents stood united for the first anniversary of the Cudlee Creek bushfires on Sunday.

Around 300 Hills locals gathered at Lobethal Oval to share their stories of survival and to reclaim December 20 as a day of hope and resilience.

Organiser and co-founder of the Lobethal Recovery Centre, Adam Weinert, led key speakers from the Country Fire Service, the Adelaide Hills Council and government bodies, while students from Lobethal Primary and Lobethal Lutheran schools performed.

Around 300 Hills locals gathered at Lobethal Oval to share their stories of survival and to reclaim December 20 as a day of hope and resilience. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Weinert, who lost his own home in the bushfire, said the day was everything he had hoped for.

“This event is not just about the fires, it’s much more than that. It’s about the journey that began with a tragic and traumatic event and which has tested every one one of us since.

“Early on in this journey we felt panic, fear and confusion but this soon turned to stoicism, determination, teamwork, empathy, generosity and compassion.

“For some of us, the trauma, confusion and exhaustion remains to this day ... but Mother Nature is now doing a fantastic job in healing herself and brand new buildings are starting to emerge.

Adam Weinert, his partner Teresa Langmead and their children, Annalies and Wolfi. Their family lost their business and their house in the fires. Picture: Dean Martin

“I sincerely hope that today is a turning point… where we make the choice to remember the past for what it was and what it taught us, but more importantly, to share in the blessings of having survived, united as a community as we continue our recovery.”

Teresa Langmead, who lost her business “She Baked” in the fires, said the event marked a milestone.

“I vividly remember being here the day after the fires and seeing the same faces,” she said.

“There was such a different feel, because of the shock - grief hadn’t really come into it yet.

“But now, we’ve gone through all the emotions and it feels like we’ve come full circle… like a weight has been lifted after everything we’ve been though.”

Elsie the Erickson Air-Crane is back on active duty for the next 84 days in South Australia. She is one of 26 aircraft in the CFS fleet that support our volunteer firefighters on the ground. Picture: CFS

South Australia’s firefighting capability has been strengthened with the arrival of a large air tanker this week.

On Wednesday, the Erickson Air-Crane, known as Elsie, flew into Claremont Airbase in Brukunga, where it will be stationed for 84 days.

The air-crane was one of the key assets during last year’s Cudlee Creek bushfire, where it was able to drop 7200 litres of water and firefighting chemicals at once.

Its return to South Australia will again bolster the Country Fire Service’s air base capability, which includes 14 fire bombers, three fixed-wing surveillance aircraft and eight rotary-wing air attack/observation platforms.

CFS manager state air operations Nik Stanley said Elsie’s main goal this year would be to protect Hills properties.

“Predominantly Elsie works through the Adelaide Hills area but she is not limited to being used in other parts of the state where it’s deemed appropriate,” he said.

“The air-crane can lift a capacity of 7200 litres of water and ground crews inject foam concentrate into the tank to help supplement the waters effectiveness in cooling the fire.

“While Elsie is a great tool to have in the toolbox and supplements our firefighting efforts, it is the crews on the ground that ultimately extinguish fires.”

A CFS spokeswoman said Elsie was among a range of key capabilities made available to brigades this bushfire season.

“One year on since the Cudlee Creek bushfires, the CFS continues to strengthen the way it prepares for and responds to emergencies across the state,” she said.

“Thermal imaging cameras have been delivered to every CFS group this year, including those local to the Cudlee Creek area.

“These cameras help to identify hotspots and fires that may be burning underground and are essential in helping to prevent further escapes from occurring and identifying hidden threats.

“Furthermore, 25 new fire trucks have been delivered across the state as part of the CFS’s ongoing vehicle replacement program (and) these included new truck allocations in Lobethal, East Torrens, Brukunga and Montacute.” 

Cudlee Creek bushfire recovery co-ordinator Alex Zimmermann said the increase in resources would help alleviate growing anxiety levels across bushfire-hit communities.

“People are increasingly visiting the (Lobethal) Recovery Centre, either seeking mental-health assistance or counselling as they display symptoms of anxiety,” he said.

“That’s really been brought about, primarily, because of the bushfire season, but also some of those extreme weather events that we have already experienced – and that’s only natural given the exceptional trauma that they went through.”

Mr Zimmerman said frustration was also “bubbling over” for property owners seeking to rebuild.

According to data from the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker District Councils, only three families have moved into their new homes out of the 53 new dwelling applications received.

This, Mr Zimmerman said, was partially due to COVID-19 but also a result of government incentives – such as the first home owner grant – which was taking away trade resources.

“We are struggling to get the right amount of trades up here – it’s been hard,” he said.

On a council front, recovery works has been more productive, despite an anticipated cost blowout.

Adelaide Hills Mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom said about $3m had so far been spent on recovery works, which included the removal of burned trees, and replacing charred signage, fencing and infrastructure.

She said despite significant state and federal grants, the total cost estimate for bushfire recovery works was “approaching $6m”.

“At this time, we are still to hear about over a million dollars in requested grant funding,” Ms Wisdom said.

Originally published as CFS flies in their ‘eye in the sky’ to help keep the Adelaide Hills safe over summer; Community marks a year since fire