Geeveston volunteer firefighter Tom Shepperd reveals how crews are coping battling the Huon Valley bushfire
Volunteer firefighters say there’s nowhere else they’d rather be than protecting their communities as a massive bushfire creeps towards Huon Valley townships.
Tasmania
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GEEVESTON volunteer firefighter Tom Shepperd says there’s no way he’d be anywhere else than protecting his community as a massive bushfire creeps towards the Huon Valley township.
The tight-knit local fire brigade has been on high alert ever since the dry lightning storm hit on January 15.
An emergency warning has been in place for most southern Huon Valley areas since last Friday.
Shepperd, 31, an optical assistant and ex-soldier, said the prolonged threat had been tough on volunteers.
“It’s been long days and long nights,” he said.
“It’s been quite frustrating actually, all of us have had to take time off work, so it’s put a bit of a strain on a lot of the members and their families.
“We’ve had crews at the station every day since we had that electrical storm come through and start spot fires.
“But there’s no way I’d be anywhere else.
“It’s what you signed on for, to protect people’s homes and lives.
“I could have gone back to work, but I can’t, there’s no way I could sit at my desk typing away doing stuff when I know people down here are defending the homes and towns.”
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Shepperd, a third-year volunteer, said the camaraderie of the brigade was helping them all get through.
“Without that we would have fallen apart for sure,” he said.
“Everybody just pulls together for their community.
“At the end of the day we’re all defending our town, our homes and our businesses.”
His extraordinary footage of himself and fellow volunteer Zak Nichols battling a fierce spot fire last Friday night, published by the Mercury, shows the intense pressure crews have been under in the Huon Valley.
Shepperd said he tried to document as much as he could so people can see how dangerous bushfires could be.
“People often see a lot of smoke, but they don’t end up seeing the fire itself or the destructive capacity it has,” he said.
“I take photos or Go Pro footage when I can, just to show people the danger it presents at the end of the day.
“Plus fires are pretty cool to look at when nobody’s in danger.”
Shepperd said the support from other brigades across the state had been “remarkable”.
“The support we’re getting from them has been immense, it’s been great because we can’t do it on our own,” he said.
“The biggest thing for us is minimising the damage to the town, the impact on people’s lives and businesses so the town can keep on living after this.
“We’re hoping the weather will turn in our favour so we can start hitting this monster where it really hurts.”
Geeveston fire brigade chief Steven Franklin said his team, and the help they had got from other crews and stations, had done a “remarkable job so far protecting the community”.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks, but it’s very pleasing to have not lost any homes at this point,” he said.
“Our workplaces have also been fantastic in allowing us time off work to protect our community, and donations of food have been greatly appreciated.”
jack.paynter@news.com.au
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