BLACK SATURDAY 07/02/2009

Click here to view photos from "Black Saturday" and the following weeks.

The communities of Toolangi & Castella were in the midst of the February 7th 2009 "Black Saturday" fires that devasted Kinglake and Marysville.

We were aware of the fire that orginated at Kilmore, but weren't too concerned about it, it was heading away from us. It was the fire that started at Murrindindi that we were worried about. With the wind blowing from the north east, this fire was going to head directly for us.

Late in the afternoon the wind changed, and the Kilmore fire then started heading in our direction on a very wide fire front that stretched from Whittlesea to Yarra Glen & Chum Creek. The township of Toolangi was in direct line from the fire burning in Chum Creek, but fortunately the wind stopped and this saved the eastern end of the town. The western end of the town and Castella was in direct line from the fire that burned up Melba Highway ("The Slide") and this area was hit at about 6:00 pm. There were a number of houses and outbuildings lost in this area and regrettably 2 people were found deceased after the fire had passed. A number of our own members also lost buildings and in a number of cases, the members were out on the truck while their loved ones were left at home to fight the fire without them. Fortunately, they were all able to save their homes but not so their outbuildings and the brigade acknowledges the hard time both the member and their families had to deal with.

Toolangi was eventually ringed by Fire (see map) and our members were on high alert for the next three and a half weeks. The brigade has a very close working relationship with the local DSE and together over the following weeks, we were able to secure Toolangi from any further attack.

We are very fortunate that our member's employers were so understanding, and most of our members were able to spend the three weeks assisting the brigade. This time has been a very stressful and exhausting one for our members and we sincerely thank all employers for being so understanding. We would also like to acknowledge members from other brigades that came and assisted us during those three weeks, we couldn't have continued with them.

The brigade would also like to acknowledge the Toolangi Tavern, Jan Williams from CJ Dennis Singing Gardens and the entire Toolangi Community for the assistance they gave the brigade during this time.