Grass/Scrub Fire - Brownhill Creek - April 2 2002

More than fifty Country Fire Service personnel and two aerial water bomber aircraft worked throughout the afternoon, overnight and into the next day to fully extinguish a fire which destroyed in excess of thirty hectares of native grass and scrub at Brownhill Creek in the Mitcham Hills.

Crews initially responded from Belair, Blackwood, Eden Hills, Coromandel Valley, Burnside, Upper Sturt and Stirling.

Crews from Coromandel Valley and Upper Sturt had to hike in one kilometre from Emmetts Road with hand tools and knapsacks to control the eastern edge of the fire.

Crews from Blackwood, Belair and Eden Hills stretched a layflat hose one kilometre to contain the northern, western and southern flanks.

The fire services received a flood of calls from concerned residents in nearby suburbs as plumes of smoke covered the hills from eleven o’clock in the morning.

No homes were directly threatened by the blaze, which is believed to have started as a result of an out of control campfire.

Aerial water bombing proved invaluable as difficult terrain hampered efforts by CFS ground crews to gain control of the blaze in the early stages. Forty drops were made by two bombers, Bomber 51 and Bomber 52, running from the Cherry Gardens Airstrip, controlled by the Rescue 52 helicoptor.

Crews continued throughout the night to extinguish hotspots and extensive use was made on the Saturday to fly crews in and out of the fire scene by helicoptor due to the isolated location of the fire.

Despite today’s cooler conditions the blaze at Brownhill Creek serves as a reminder that the risk of a wildfire can occur on any given day.

The Fire as seen by firefighters responding to the scene

Crews hiking into the fire from Emmetts Road - one kilometre!!

Crews using hand tools controlling the eastern flank.

Area Bombed - Is it Xmas??

Koala Caught up in the Bombing Activities