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My Brother's House Just Burnt in a Bushfire/Ember Attack
This is a picture of my brother before his house burnt down as a result of an ember attack. (Not to self: talk to him over a beer about proper PPE to wear...!)
A FRANKSTON North house is in flames after ember attacks from a wild bushfire south of Melbourne set a roof alight this afternoon.
Residents are being warned to stay alert as the grass and scrub fire burns wildly in the Seaford area.
Embers from the fire struck a house on Paddington Ave in Frankston North, setting the roof alight.
Read the full article at
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24938052-661,00.html
More pictures at:
http://leader-news.whereilive.com.au/photos/gallery/bushfires-in-carrum-downs/
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robert Stewart on
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Thats a kick in the teeth lutan1 that your bro's house was burnt down to the ground as result of an ember attack ,i guess with it being so cool in December 2008 that lulled people into a false sense of security thinking that nothing would happen then this to happen would be a shock to their system
I can point out 1 thing that your bro was doing right in that pic is hosing down the roof with a garden hose fitted with a trigger action nozzle although he should have had the right PPE
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Permalink Reply by Aussie_Wildfire on
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what do I say, city folk. My sister lives in Nth ringwood and I tell her, with the right conditions, her suburb could burn. I am sure Tony P would agree, our interface around melbourne scares most CFA guys who have seen what wildfires can do. I hope your brother did not lose to many treasures. give him our regards.
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Information is really sketchy- I've spoke nto hinm a few times now.
The house is still standing but from what's he's been able to see through the windows (Police and Firey's haven't let him get too close or go in yet), it sounds like he's lost the lounge room, bathroom, laundry and obviously loads of smoke of water damage.
The news footage shows the house with big gaping holes in the roof.
He's heard, and I don't know where from or how accurate it is, that the original fire was possbily lit by two, 7 year olds or thereabouts.
If it is arson, then with the loss of property, I'd suggest a whole can of whupass has just been opened on the offenders if they're caught....
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Yeah, the whole urban interface issue is a huge one!
This is an area that regularly burns....
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Fire investigator just finsihed going through- confirmed bathroom and loungeroom have been destroyed.
Apparatnly the insulation kept smouldering so huge amounts of water were dumped on it to extinguish.
I'd dare say, the ceiling will start to collapse soon with the weight of water and wet insulation????
Other damage includes 1' of water throughout, covering the floors. Smoke damage to every single part of the house.
I guess in the scheme of things, they still got out of it very lucky!
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The house is nothing. it's the little treasures you have that cannot be replaced. All my files on my computer I give to relatives every summer and if I leave home. I take a memory stick with me.
and yes, in the scheme of things, they still got out of it very lucky
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Ther HeraldSun have done an interview with him, "One house in the street caught fire when embers landed on its roof.
Owner Peter Dam said he had been at work when the fire started but strangers had been watering down the house trying to prevent any possible damage.
Mr Dam said he returned to his house about 2.30pm and went onto the roof with his teenage son Michael to water down the property.
''The last three or four hours we've been up on the roof trying to do everything right, hose everything down and unfortunately it just didn't do any good'', Mr Dam said.
''We had two of us on the roof hosing it down but we still missed it.
''We weren't expecting it because we thought we did everything right.
''We're 150m away from the fire, where as our neighbours are right up against it and they copped nothing''.
Mr Dam said he wasn't sure of the extend of the damage but was just glad his wife Pamela and daughter Melissa, 18, weren't inside when the fires started.
Fire investigators will work to determine the cause of the Seaford fire. "
Read the full article at http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24938052-2862,00.html
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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from the sounds of things due to the fire load (fire through the roof and the rooms burnt out) that the home is going to be a total loss. (my construction/engineering opinion not f.d. opinion) You all have homeowners insurance against wildfires out there? With that much structural damage and cosmetic damage (smoke, heat, and water) the potential for bacteria/mold/mildew will prevail and cost the entire building. With any luck they can get him a home built again quickly before winter sets in in a few months. (communities that stick together can accomplish a lot)
I'm sure they will only get so far with 2 kids who lit the fire, and no money at all. (jouvenile firestarters program)
I'm sorry to hear about the loss Luke, it's never easy on anyone.
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I'm hearing ya'!
Insurance- Yes.
I tend to agree with your assessment about the damage. I sometimes think you're far better off having the whole place burn to the ground. At least then, it's easier to start over as opposed to trying to salvage and repair.
Unfortunately, due to the age of the alleged, they'll get bugger all except a slap on the wrist and a yelling.....
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Brings it home a bit doesn't it? Fire affecting one of our own.
That wasn't a large fire (about 6 hectares, or 15 acres if you like) but it put up a hell of a lot of smoke! Clearly visible from my area about 40 kilometres away.
This was a classic example of ember attack. Fire jumps over houses/forest and starts again further downwind. There are still too many people who have the idea that just because the open land isn't just over their back fence, that they live in the suburbs, that they're safe from wildfire. Definitely not the case!
The correct 'PPE' that your brother should have been wearing Luke? Jeans, leather boots, long sleeved cotton shirt, gloves (welders or leather gardening ) and a hat. As you would know, but it never hurts to tell people!
Getting embers into his roof was the killer for the house, and that bloody smouldering ceiling insulation! That stuff causes us a lot of grief at house fires, very hard to ensure it's all out - as you say, with all the water that was put into it the ceiling will be falling soon...
But as always, the final word. Nobody was hurt, and that's the main thing!
Wildfire? I live a couple of k's from your sister. Between her and the Dandenongs.
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