Evacuation plan was acitivated, but wind saved Bruthen

Sue and Ken Smith have both been long-time volunteers with Bruthen’s fire brigade, but they evacuated during last summer’s devastating blaze. It was only luck that saved the town. Find out what here.

Smoke covers at Bruthen during last summer's fires.

Being caught in a burn-over in an under-equipped fire truck would be terrifying, but it’s a different kind of fear when your family home lies in the path of an unstoppable blaze.

Sue and Ken Smith, residents of Bruthen for more than 30 years, have both been long-time volunteers with the town’s fire brigade — Ken is a life member and Sue served for 18 years. The couple have seen their share of firefighting action.

“In 2002-03, we were trapped in a brigade truck at Cobungra near Mt Hotham when the fire went over the top of us,” Sue said.

“Then, during another blaze in 2007, the sky went so black the chooks went to bed and Bruthen was only saved by a wind change.”

Sue said last summer’s East Gippsland fires had been burning since November and, told by their brigade captain it couldn’t save the town, the couple prepared to leave.

“We had very little water in the town and no shelter,” she said.

“We trimmed growth around the house, kept the grass short, filled rubbish bins with water, cleaned out gutters and ensured all hoses were operational.

“We wet everything down, put a soaker hose through the hedge, locked up and left on New Year’s Eve.

“We were always going to evacuate — Ken is asthmatic and the valley was full of smoke, so we went to our son’s place at Lake Bunga with two cats in the caravan.”

The three then had to move again when another fire front threatened, but Bruthen was eventually saved by another wind change.

The Smiths returned 36 hours later, hardly believing their house and town had survived.

Sue said careful preparation was critical as this next summer approaches. “Leaves and twigs lying in gutters are a huge risk from flying embers — clean them out and, if you can, fill them with water — and move those outdoor mats,” she said. “With good rainfall this year has come a measure of complacency, but there’s still plenty of bush out there.

“Cut everything back hard, make a detailed fire plan, take the dog food, the phone charger, your scripts and have the car fuelled up and pointing in the right direction.

“It was heartbreaking for us to drive away — our home contains a lifetime of memories, but you can’t pack everything.

“Even today, the sound of the fire siren or smell of smoke gives me chills.”

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