VIC aged care home saved by firefighters’ quick thinking
At one stage, the flames were within a metre of the facility. The smoke alarm was triggered, automatically opening the front door, and even more smoke streamed into the facility.
As ash and embers fell and thick smoke entered the corridors, staff at Natimuk’s aged care facility, 300km west of Melbourne, could only think about the safety of the residents last Friday.
With temperatures sweltering at 44C, staff unexpectedly found the home in the path of a fast-moving fire that was wreaking destruction after a sudden wind change. All 36 residents were quickly gathered into a common area.
The fire continued to race closer – at one stage, the flames were within a metre of the facility. The smoke alarm was triggered, automatically opening the front door, and even more smoke streamed into the facility.
Soon several quick-thinking firefighters used their trucks to form a barricade, preventing the flames from progressing further.
But other structures in the town, which is home to 500 people, were not so lucky. At least 70 buildings were lost in Natimuk that day and 8,300 hectares of land blackened.
Staff stranded at facility
Once the emergency was over, it was not safe for staff to leave. Staff on the morning shift worked into the afternoon, and then into the night. They were eventually able to leave on Saturday. Many had been there for 27 hours.
Natimuk Nursing Home director David Schultz told media: “The staff have been amazingly resilient. Obviously they’re a bit emotionally up and down.”
Three staff members lost their own homes. The fires continued to burn until Sunday.
On Monday, Country Fire Authority Jason Heffernan said firefighters “knew that the nursing home was a priority. They knew it was a priority for the people in it [and] for the town, and they did everything they did. I’m just proud.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also praised firefighters for their efforts.
“I want to thank everyone on Friday who came out and protected homes, protected property, protected community. It’s such an incredible effort from the brigades across the district. The fact that it wasn’t more was because of the incredible work of not only the Natimuk CFA but [people] across the district – I want to thank everyone.”
