Fires

[lynx42]

Yesterday the Gippsland Historical Automobile Club Inc. held its annual display day at Morwell. A stinking hot day (42C and a strong North Westerly blowing) and the numbers were down by about 2/3's.

I took the 1977 Leyland truck and as the presentations finished, the CFA (Country Fire Authority) raced into our Club grounds and ordered everyone to evacuate. The Morwell-Hearns Oak fire had broken containment lines and was heading past us to the south and a very strong south west change was imminent. Almost everyone scattered fast to the east through Morwell and within 10 minutes the fire was at the Club grounds

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This was the only road out and was blocked within minutes.

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One member and his grandson stayed at the Club grounds and managed to save the property. The pony club on one side, the archery club on the other and the motorcycle club to the rear of our clubs 10 acre block all suffered badly as did the gun club further down the road.

Thanks to Ron and Aaron, the GHAC Club rooms were saved.

We were quite pleased to head eastward and none of our group were injured. Thanks CFA for your advice to leave.

The main Princes Highway and railway towards Melbourne, westward, were closed and hundreds of people were to remain in Morwell and Traralgon for the night. Some of our members from the west booked out a Morwell motel as they couldn't get home.

We were glad to get home and find that all was OK in our area.

Regards Rick.