Fireys’ crippling guilt after Green Valley bushfire killed Sam McPaul
The two survivors of a fire tornado which killed RFS volunteer Sam McPaul still plays on the minds of two fireys as the bushfire season approaches
NSW
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The two survivors of the monstrous tornado that roared through bushland and tossed their truck onto its roof killing volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul have told how they still struggle with crippling guilt one year on.
As bushfire season approaches, the distressing events of December 30 are replayed in the fore of volunteer firefighter Rodney O’Keeffe’s mind who falls silent when he fathoms the sad reality of how the young mechanic died before he got to meet his firstborn.
“I’ve been a volunteer firefighter for 24 years, we’ve tackled blazes of that size before but that day was erratic.
“Sam was young, he had the rest of his life to live, he was a devoted firefighter and community man, he coached sport in the area and adored his wife and was very much respected.
“I still have the scars from that day, I’ve had skin grafts from my thighs transplanted on my arms and back but we will go out and fight this year’s bushfires again for Sam.”
The fire started by a lightning strike was whipped up by cyclonic-type winds of 250kmp and in temperatures of more than 40 degrees, creating its own weather system, known as a pyrocumulonimbus.
McPaul and his crew led by Culcairn North West fire captain Andrew Godde, 52, answered a call to rescue cattle caught in the corner of an upper Murray paddock.
They were 50 metres from a gate they entered on flat ground when extreme winds stoked the flames, lifted the back of the truck, inverted it and landed it on its roof.
The vehicle’s windows blew out with the impact sending the flashing lights hurling 0.5km into a field.
Captain Godde, 52, was trapped in the cabin but managed to clamber out from the windscreen window that exploded from the impact burning his hands on scorching twisted wreck.
“I’ve never been more scared in my life, I don’t know why Sam didn’t survive, I guess his time was up, I still question why mine wasn’t,” said Mr Godde, 52.
“The fire tornado came in from the top of the trees and dropped straight down on us in the clearing in the valley, the 8ft wall of flames was red, I’ll never forget it, we tried to drive through it to get out of danger but the tornado picked us up, threw the truck into the air, and it landed on its roof, tossed around like a rag doll.
“It was a freak accident, Sam didn’t make it, his family lost him.
“He was the first one to put his hand up to help anyone. He and Megan loved each other, they were meant to be, and that makes it harder.
“It’s tough, I’m still trying to deal with it.
“You blame yourself, these were my boys, they’re my responsibility but I’ve gone over and over in my mind if I could have done anything differently. There was nothing I could have done.
The Green Valley fire raged for four weeks after across 80kms from Jingellic through Corryong and North East Victoria towards Tom Groggin. Five others were wounded in the blaze.
RFS volunteers saved 173 houses and outbuildings but 15 were burned and 47 destroyed.
Since Sam’s death the NSW Southern Border RFS team to which he belonged, 187 new members have volunteered, compared with 104 the previous year.
Rural Fire Service Superintendent Patrick Westwood said his crews have learned from the savage bushfire season and would use their gained experience this time round.
“We’re not expecting anything near what happened last season when we had an interaction between drought and extremely dry fuels due to ongoing hot weather.
“A lot of our volunteers had to step up into leadership positions and learned a lo, they’ll be able ti draw on that this year.
“ We still remember Sam, we have a silence at the AGMs to recall the sacrifice he made, there has been something grounding in that power.
“This is small community that is still hurting.”
