The bushfire that threatened hundreds of homes in Sutherland Shire last month was “the perfect storm”, State Parliament has been told.
Heathcote MP Lee Evans said it was “something that even the most seasoned firefighters had not seen for decades”.
Mr Evans related the stages of the unfolding potential disaster and thanked the emergency services on behalf of his community.
Meanwhile, Sutherland Shire Council will stage a “community thank you BBQ” on Sunday, May 6, for those involved in protecting residents and homes from the advancing blaze.
The event will be held in Parc Menai between 11am and 2pm.
“It’s an opportunity for our community to come together to show our heart-felt thanks to everyone involved in the recent firefighting efforts,” a council statement said.
“Bring your family and friends along to say thanks and enjoy live stage performances, fun for the kids and a picnic in the park.
“MC extraordinaire Dane Wheeler will kick off proceedings from 11am.
“The community will then be treated to a stellar line up of live entertainment from Hot Potato Band, Endlesssummerbeachparty and Joel Leffler Music.
“And, the kids will have an absolute ball with obstacle courses, face painting, giant garden games, emergency services vehicles on display and so much more.”
Mr Evans told Parliament he was “humbled by the superhuman effort” of the NSW Rural Fire Service [RFS], Fire and Rescue NSW, police, State Emergency Service, community firefighting volunteers and hundreds of volunteers “who saved my community from devastation” between April 13-16.
“After receiving updates every 15 minutes, the situation was not getting any better, and by early evening on Saturday 14 April I was of the opinion that the fire was heading for a massive disaster of the likes of the Como fires of the 1990s, when hundreds of homes were either lost or damaged, lives were lost and RFS personnel were injured,” he said.
“Through Saturday night ,the wind dropped for a time, which allowed firefighters to get in front of the main mass of the fire.
“At this stage the fire front had not crossed Heathcote Road, but by Sunday morning the fire had jumped Heathcote Road.”
Mr Evans said, early on Sunday, MPs were summonsed to a briefing, also attended by the Premier, at RFS headquarters at Lidcombe.
“Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons laid it on the line that later that day we were going to face one of the most challenging times our communities had faced for decades,” he said.
“Without overstating the facts, a westerly wind was expected to pick up to 100 kilometres per hour that afternoon, whipping up the fire from controlled to out of control and heading straight for my community of Menai.
“The fire front was generating temperatures in excess of 1600 degrees, which means that flora was bursting into flame hundreds of metres in front of the fire.
“This is the environment our volunteers were working in.
“The endless training, modern equipment and great management teams ensured that everyone was kept as safe as possible.
“On Sunday afternoon, another briefing was organised at Heathcote RFS regional headquarters, with the Prime Minister in attendance.
“Again, there was no good news.”
Mr Evans said “the winds, as expected, had picked up and air support was having very little impact because the wind was blowing at 100 kilometres per hour”.
“This was a full-blown emergency,” he said.
“Electronic alerts had been sent informing residents to enact their fire plans and seek shelter if they had chosen to stay.”
Mr Evans said, thankfully, many people, had heeded earlier warnings and the elderly, sick, infirm and young children had evacuated the area.
“The firestorm that eventuated was something that even the most seasoned firefighters had not seen for decades— the perfect storm,” he said.
“Everything was against us: The dry fuel on the ground, little rain for weeks and low humidity all added up to the worst conditions ever seen so late in the season, and in autumn to boot.”
Mr Evans said by Monday morning the worst was over.
He said RFS and Fire & Rescue NSW units from throughout Sydney had been involved in combating the fire.
Units had come from as far away as Terrigal, Dural, Wentworth Falls, Glenbrook and Campbelltown to help.
“On behalf of my community, I owe our emergency services another big thank you.”
