Upwey/Lysterfield/Belgrave Fires 23/02/09

XR6BF2 · 23-02-2009, 07:06 PM

My Mum (Tecoma), and Sisters Family who live right near Birdsland Reserve had to evacuate today.

I live in F.T.G, and the smoke was insane, anyone else here live near Upwey/Tecoma/Belgrave Sth/Heights ?, not sure if they got it under control yet.

I was down at F.T.G Auto Salvage not long after it started, below are some images I took.

F.T.G Cemetery Roundabout. (Around 3.00pm)

Front of F.T.G Auto Salvage. (Around 4.00pm)

F.T.G Auto Salvage Yard. (Around 5.00pm)

Front of F.T.G Auto Salvage. (Around 6.00pm)

Here's the aftermath of the other recent F.T.G Fire on Burwood Hwy, Taken from front of F.T.G Auto Salvage, damn close.

**Falcon Coupe** · 23-02-2009, 07:11 PM

http://free-press-leader.whereilive....terfield-park/

I had to drive over the Dandenongs to get home from work this after noon, i was turned away from lysterfield then Belgrave and emerald.

I must have been quite close to the fires at South Belgrave where the Police blocked the road, i could see the smoke and red glow of the main fire, by the time i went around Emerald and down through Upper Beaconsfield i could see the fire coming a few kilometers away through the clearing.

Belgrave was mayhem with caravans, horse floats etc, i hope everyone up that way is ok tonight, it was quite a scary sight after recent events.

Auslandau · 23-02-2009, 07:18 PM

Yes just got home and Burwood Hwy is bad. Watching from the kitchen window but cant see too much now because of the smoke. No probs where I live but all too close and just wish it would bloody rain ... or something!

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XR6BF2 · 23-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Yeah, it's pretty hectic up this way atm, I posted another thread with some pics here: http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11250917

**Falcon Coupe** · 23-02-2009, 07:40 PM

Threads merged.

4Vman · 23-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Hope its out by tomorrow, i want to do the 1000 stairs!

The lysterfield fire looks big... smoke started about 2.30.

**Falcon Coupe** · 23-02-2009, 08:02 PM

Update, Upwey large fire with 40 trucks deployed.

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/...#1478035061663

Better by a stairmaster 5000 Norm. The public is safe from tights and leg warmers for another day.

4Vman · 23-02-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Update, Upwey large fire with 40 trucks deployed.

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/...#1478035061663

Better by a stairmaster 5000 Norm. The public is safe from tights and leg warmers for another day.
__________________

Nick... trust me on this... the stairs are not only great for fitness but optical well being...
Evenings about 5.30 or weekend afternoons are a sight to behold at the stairs... TRUST me, the effort is worth it.

**Peuty** · 23-02-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Hope its out by tomorrow, i want to do the 1000 stairs!

I hope it's out by tomorrow for reasons other than wanting to climb stairs.

Tribal · 23-02-2009, 08:33 PM

Anyone got any news from Belgrave Heights? - have a best mate of 20 years up there - talked to him around 6:00pm - the smoke was just starting to get thick up there...

4Vman · 23-02-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

I hope it's out by tomorrow for reasons other than wanting to climb stairs.

Very true.

Kilsyth Basketball stadium is currently being used as a refuge.. its starting to get busy there. Not good.

Marduk · 23-02-2009, 08:56 PM

Made it home alright. Possible ember attack but i'm not to concerned at the moment.

tim2x · 23-02-2009, 09:03 PM

Im in tecoma... gonna stay.

Auslandau · 23-02-2009, 09:26 PM

Whats happening at the moment? All I can see is a red sky over the back and looks very un natural.

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Feathers · 23-02-2009, 09:32 PM

Fairmont99 wasn't sure if he could get home from work when I last spoke to him tonight.

Hope everyone up there is safe, and the firey's can get it under control!

Marduk · 23-02-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feathers

Fairmont99 wasn't sure if he could get home from work when I last spoke to him tonight.

I guess he made it home cause his car is in the driveway :P

Feathers · 23-02-2009, 09:55 PM

Yeah he'd left work when I got home.

Good to know you both got home ok. ;)

vandrsxr6 · 23-02-2009, 09:57 PM

I'm in Lysterfiel ( Kellets Rd) and we were pretty scared for a moment there when we thought the wind changed to a SW (straight towards our house).

Not sure how it's going now. There are still High Alerts for the Tecoma,Belgrave Heights area. Hopefully Glenfern road can act as a bit of a fire break to give them a chance.

Auslandau · 23-02-2009, 10:08 PM

Just off the phone to a mate in the UFTG CFA. They had the crap scared out of them when one of the trucks got caught in the fire and burnt. That crew escaped with wet blankets and made a run for it. His truck got bombed by Elvis which also makes a mess of the truck but least they all got out OK. Still going at the back but the winds have eased up a bit and they sent a few teams home.

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**Sorted** · 23-02-2009, 10:15 PM

I live in Ferntree Gully and Work up in the mountains, drove through Belgrave and Upwey on the way home (after 5pm) didnt see any flame nor was any smoke over the road - only traffic jam all way down Burwood Highway

Weather Today was no where near as bad as black Saturday........but now Ppl are panicking and its getting a bit crazy.

Mate works in Upwey Foodworks and roads were closed and alot of smoke but it was not that bad that they had to evacuate, they did close the store early though..........

Lots of ppl had evacuated and gone to upper ferntree gully shops - lots and lots of dogs there.............bit weird seeing ppl camping at a safe zone.

Pinkbits · 23-02-2009, 10:37 PM

I am in Stawell for the week and at the moment it is blowing a gale. Just hope the wind weakens before it reaches over there.
35 deg today and now it is around 10 deg, love our Victorian weather!

GUTLES · 23-02-2009, 10:44 PM

I could see the smoke going up into the air today from my house in Pakenham, it looked like the fire was in Pakenham Upper.

**Sorted** · 24-02-2009, 12:11 AM

Incident Information

The Nixon Road fire, burning near Upwey (Melways Map reference 83J2), is burning in a north east direction and is estimated to be 100 hectares in size. The communities of Upwey, Tecoma, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South and Belgrave are no longer under direct threat from this fire, but still need to remain alert due to a high level of fire activity still in the area.

Tribal · 24-02-2009, 08:00 AM

Thanks Sorted...

Fev · 24-02-2009, 09:03 AM

im pretty worried about my gf's parents, they live in Belgrave - heard from them last night - they were on hi alert, had the car packed up etc to get the hell out of there when notified. good to hear they arent in direct danger currently

Spanrz · 24-02-2009, 05:51 PM

You know, it's scary, all these years living in the hills, going to school in the hills, not many fires. I move out, and now there's fires.
In all the years of going to Gully Tech, hardly a fire, but in a space a of a few years, fires all around the area.
My old haunts were lower and upper gully, upwey and belgrave. Lots of school mates in the area of Belgrave and etc. So weird back in the mid 80's that it wasn't like this (all these fires in todays world).

Being involved in the Narre South Fires, 2 weeks ago, the 1995 or 97 fires that the Dandenongs were alight, and yesterday seeing these fires (more smoke than flame), bring the Ash Wednesday memories, all flooding back again.