Bowen Mountain faces down Gospers bushfire
Some will ignore dire warnings to stay, many will go, and the 45-strong Grose Vale RFS brigade have prepared as best they can to battle the Gospers mega-blaze and defend tiny Bowen Mountain.
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The spectre of the enormous Gospers Mountain blaze looms large over the township of Bowen Mountain with each of its 1200 residents preparing for the worst on Thursday.
Soaring temperatures of up to 43 degrees and tricky wind conditions has prompted plain-speaking Rural Fire Service (RFS) personnel to issue a stark warning that Bowen Mountain was at “greatest risk” from the massive out-of-control bushfire.
On the eve of one of the biggest days in its firefighting history, the 45-strong crew at Grose Vale Rural Fire Brigade is tired but feels “well-prepared” to protect the ridge-top suburb ahead of predicted hot, north-westerly winds.
Deputy captain Troy Slender and his 14-year-old son Jackson will be among RFS members on scene, protecting the 1200 properties, including their own in Bowen Mountain village.
Mr Slender said crews spent Wednesday “preparing”, stocking up on bushfire fighting foam, bottled water for the members, and checking fire trails for hazards.
They have placed 120-gallon water buoys in three locations: Bowen Mountain Rural Fire Brigade – their secondary fire station – and at the southern and northern ends of Bowen Mountain.
The entire suburb of Bowen Mountain is on tank water so if the electricity goes out, they’ll need generators to stay and defend, Mr Slender said.
“We’re expecting fast-moving ember attacks in Grose Vale,” he said.
New homeowners and parents of an eight-month-old bub were among those leaving or preparing to leave town on Wednesday afternoon.
Michael Kalonikos said the car was packed to leave for the in-laws’ in Kurmond in the morning, or sooner depending on conditions.
“We’ve already taken the (four) chickens to the in-laws, because it’s not fun catching chickens in stressful conditions,” Mr Kalonikos said. “When Theo wakes at 3am we’ll check the news again and decide.”
Wife Ashleigh said: “Up here you’re in the grace of god.”
Mrs Kalonikos said although they both worried about overhanging pine trees, they took comfort in the fire trail running alongside their home.
Bronte Lehay, 21, who bought her dream home with partner Aaron Shepherd only six months ago knowing the looming bushfire dangers, is now headed with him to Grose Vale until the risk passes.
“You make the jokes when you buy up here but you never think it’s going to happen,” she said.
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The Beveridge’s have no family locally and have packed up the car to head to family in Queensland.
Mum Tamallee Beveridge said her kids understand why they’re fleeing. Daughter Jayde is 11 and her brother Samuel is five. He has packed his favourite pillow, Blacky.
“They’ve been a bit anxious,” Mrs Beveridge said.
Some were choosing to stay and defend, despite Rural Fire Service warnings that it’s not safe.
Nearby neighbour Rick is among them, and his daughter Jessica is heartbroken.
“I don’t want him to stay,” the 13-year-old said. “I don’t want to lose him.”
She, brother Riley, and mum were headed to their pop’s house in Rouse Hill today with their two dogs, two cats, two birds, a turtle and lizard in tow.
“I want to stay with Dad and make sure he’s okay,” Riley, 10, said.
Rick says the house is fire-ready — gutters are cleared, a generator-operated water pump is set up, and he’s got tied-down ladders leaning on the back and front of the house so he can easily access the roof, if necessary.
He’s also cleared an area around the back of his property.
Jason Burgmann says if the family’s timber house burns, “we’ve had 20 good years here”.
His daughters, aged 20 and 18, are leaving the mountain early tomorrow but he and his wife will wait until they’re asked to leave by the police.
“We started doing a (evacuation) practise run when they called the ‘catastrophic’ fire day,” Mr Burgmann commented while putting up roof sprinklers “just in case we do get stuck up here”.
