Nursing scars of ‘devil’s’ fire

Survivor backs case for mandatory evacuation

Written by JEFF ZEUSCHNER. - Wangaratta Chronicle 16 Feb 09

MUDGEGONGA bushfire survivor, Bill Culhane, believes mandatory evacuation from properties

Image by iamagloworm via Flickr

threatened by bushfires must come into Victoria.

"They’ve got to look at it," said the invalid pensioner, who counts himself among the lucky ones as the massive Beechworth fire, fanned by 45 degree heat and strong winds, ripped through the district on February 7, killing Mr Culhane’s friends, John and Sue Wilson, and destroying more than a dozen neighbors’ properties.

"It was the fire ball from hell and the devil was riding it," he said.

"There was nothing you could do to stop it....trees were ripped out of the ground in the firestorm.

"Everyone I’ve spoken to would never go through that again."

The fires have ignited debate over the stay and defend policy, and Mr Culhane, having seen what he has, believes laws must change.

"If the days are over a certain temperature and the wind over a certain strength, then I reckon people must have to evacuate," he said yesterday, as CFA crews put out spot fires nearby from backburning operations.

Mr Culhane’s home - the former Mudgegonga Primary School building - was used as an evacuation centre at the height of the fires, which had encircled the area.

His former home at Barwidgee Creek went up in flames, but his two beloved horses in the paddock opposite survived.

However, ‘Timber Jack’ , his four year old gelding race horse, suffered serious burns.

"His legs were badly burnt and it was feared he may lose his hooves, but that isn’t the case," Mr Culhane said.

"He’s still carrying burns, and it will be a long process to make a full recovery."

Mr Culhane praised the support he had received from his Wangaratta Parfitt Road trainer, Stephen Cunningham, who is caring for ‘Timber Jack’, and also Goulburn Valley Equine Clinic, which had waived its $3500 fee for initial treatment of the horse the day after the fires.