“Massive flames”: homes saved but cabin claimed in bushfire

A family who lost their cabin after a bushfire tore through nearby bushland say they’re feeling shell-shocked, but relieved their home was saved. THEIR STORY. >>

A Dynnyrne family who lost their cabin after a bushfire tore through the foothills of Mt Nelson say they feel shell-shocked, but relieved fire crews were able to get on top of the fast moving blaze.

Calli and Nathan Crump and their two boys, Jack (11) and Fox (7), were one of the families forced to leave their home when the blaze broke out on Saturday afternoon.

“I was in the kitchen and saw a little bit of smoke go past the window, a couple of minutes later, it was a fair amount of smoke,” Mrs Crump said.

“Next thing we know, the police have come up and told us to evacuate.

“As soon as we left down the street, that’s when the massive flames started, it was all very scary.”

Dynnyrne residents Nathan, Fox 7, Jack 11 and Calli Crump. Picture: Chris Kidd

The kids were in the middle of a play date at their home when the situation unfolded.

“We just had to leave, I didn’t pack anything, I took the kids and some water,” Mrs Crump said.

Jack said the situation was scary.

“I saw massive flames,” Jack said.

“It was just crazy, I was freaking out, I was really scared, I thought I was going to die.

“Then the fire brigade came and I felt safe, they started fighting it and putting water on it and it settled down.”

Helicopter dumping water. Bushfire in Dynnyrne threatening homes. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mrs Crump said thanks to the quick work of firefighters, they were able to return to their house – still intact - before 6pm.

But a cabin on the property was unable to be saved.

“That’s really sad because Nathan actually built that himself out of all recycled materials and it was beautiful inside and out,” Mrs Crump said.

This cabin was destroyed in the blaze. Pic: Crump Architects.

“But to rebuild the actual house would have been a huge so it could have been a lot worse.

“We’re so grateful (for) the firefighters, how quickly the planes came and the fireys came was amazing.”

Mrs Crump said recent clearing around the property also helped save their home.

“Luckily, we’d done a fair bit of clearing on our property and the vacant block next door, the council had recently cleared that,” Mrs Crump said.

“If that hadn’t been cleared, I don’t think the house would have survived.

“We’ve had not really any sleep, we’re feeling a little bit shell-shocked, but we’re very relieved.”

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