In a devastating twist of fate, a volunteer firefighter in Victoria, Australia, has seen his own family holiday home consumed by the very flames he was battling. Simon Crisp, a dedicated member of the Country Fire Authority (CFA), could only watch as the weekender he built near Longwood was reduced to ash, leaving only a chimney and a bathtub standing.
A Day of Exhaustion and Heartache
Friday marked a day of extreme danger across the state, with temperatures soaring as high as 46C and strong winds fuelling dozens of separate incidents. More than 700 Victorian firefighters confronted 40 blazes, with the massive Longwood grass fire destroying properties and community buildings. The conditions were so severe that approximately 75,000 homes lost power.
For Simon Crisp, the personal toll was immense. "I knew that eventually the fire would get to us," he said, exhausted and with fresh blisters after fighting the inferno. His family's retreat, cherished for 30 years, was gone. Yet, after receiving basic first aid at the Longwood command centre, Crisp made the remarkable decision to return to duty on a fire truck to protect others. "I could be here for a few days," he stated.
Communities Bunker Down and Rally Together
The fire threat created scenes of tense preparation and community solidarity. In nearby Seymour, CFA Captain Kylie Compt described the anxious wait for deployment, using the service's phrase 'hurry up and wait'. Crews were briefed on the traumatic decisions they might face, including being unable to assist properties in perilously unsafe conditions.
On the front line, local businesses like The White Hart hotel in Longwood became vital hubs. With no water, power, or mobile reception, publican Katrina Bowden kept the doors open, hiring a generator and handing out keys to locals. "We've got plenty of other liquid luxuries, fortunately," she joked, highlighting the community's resolve. The hotel provided meals and ice to firefighters, with the volunteer-run food service, People Supporting People, serving 500 meals on the first day at the Longwood centre alone.
A Long Campaign Ahead
As the day wore on, the fire map expanded, with alerts issued for towns like Alexandra and Yea, many of which were scarred by the 2009 Black Saturday fires. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan warned that the major fires would likely burn for weeks to come, signalling the start of a summer fire cycle. A total fire ban remained in place into Saturday.
The sentiment on the ground was one of weariness and determination. "Everyone is pretty worried and on edge," said Bowden. For volunteers like Simon Crisp, and countless others, the immediate future holds an exhausting campaign to curb further damage, even as they grapple with profound personal loss.
