Air Support Activated for Westby Grass Fire
Sunday afternoon, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) was called to a grass fire on Myall Road in Westby. The Westby CFA response was spectacular. An aircraft was circling, monitoring the fire, providing vital assistance to ground crews and helicopter...
Sunday afternoon, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) was called to a grass fire on Myall Road in Westby. The Westby CFA response was spectacular. An aircraft was circling, monitoring the fire, providing vital assistance to ground crews and helicopter. The sky was filled with smoke and circulating wildlife as the helicopter warning sirens alerted surrounding personnel that the water load would soon be released on to the scorched earth.
A CFA spokesperson said, “11 CFA units responded to a paddock fire in Westby at around 3.45pm on December 17. Units responded from Koondrook, Gannawarra, Kerang, Murrabit, Sandhill Lake and District, and Lake Charm. Air support was called to assist. The fire spanned approximately 25.6 hectares. The cause is unknown at this stage. The incident was deemed under control at 4.34pm and safe at 5.15pm.”
Victoria has been bolstered by an aerial firefighting fleet this summer, with the Victorian Government announcing on December 18 that “A total of 51 firefighting aircraft makes up the fleet – more than last year’s contingent. The fleet includes a mix of firebombing aircraft, air attack supervision and airborne information gathering aircraft.”
