Farmer’s livestock relocation effort amid ‘horrific’ fire conditions

The “horrific” conditions that resulted in fire sweeping towards Elderslie and Broadmarsh were some of the worst a local farmer has encountered.

A RESIDENT and former firefighter says Monday’s “horrific” fire conditions were some of the worst he has encountered.

Tex Sonners, 64, lives on Elderslie Rd, Broadmarsh, and works as a farmhand in the area, and spoke of how he saw the fire develop.

“We were working in the sheep yards and a big clap of thunder and lightning came through,’’ he said.

“Probably half an hour after that, that’s when we saw the smoke.

“About an hour after that, we got the ember attack.”

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Mr Sonners, who was a member of the Broadmarsh Fire Brigade for more than 20 years, said he and a group of others soon turned their attention to putting out fires.

“It was pretty horrific for a while because there were fires all around us,’’ he said.

“It was just spotfiring everywhere. It was extremely hot and extremely windy.”

Local resident and farmhand Tex Sonners on a property along Elderslie Road, Pelham, where he had to evacuate live stock when fires raced through the area. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Mr Sonners later focused on relocating hundreds of sheep, which he said was made problematic by the fire conditions.

“At that time, there were fires everywhere and it was difficult to move stock because you didn’t know where you could move them to,’’ he said. “You might move them into one paddock and the next minute there’s a fire in that one.

“You had to sort of work out which way the fire was travelling before you decided where to move the stock.”

Mr Sonners’ wife and son evacuated their property due to the fire threat.

When Mr Sonners got home late on Monday night, the power was out.

Mr Sonners surveyed burnt-out areas around Elderslie on Tuesday. He said as far as he was aware, no stock had been lost in the area.

Fay and Zed Frazer slept inside their camper van at Broadmarsh Hall after they had to evacuate their Bluff Road home in Pelham. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Couple flee to safety and hope for the best

THE first Zed Frazer knew of the extent of a dangerous bushfire near his home on Monday was when he noticed smoke from his back door.

“It looked like a cloud initially, it was pretty close, maybe half a kilometre [away],’’ he said. “We were getting a bit worried … we packed up, threw it all in the van.”

Mr Frazer and wife Fay were soon on the road, fleeing their Bluff Rd, Elderslie, home and seeking safety at the Broadmarsh Community Hall.

Yesterday, Mr Frazer was in good spirits despite not knowing if his property had been spared by the blaze.

“All you can do is do your preparation and hope for the best,” he said. Mr Frazer, 74, said he was unsure when he would be able to return to his home.