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Kilkeven Striketeam - October 2009
The Brigade was asked to support a striketeam to Kilkeven near Gympie on 17th October 2009. This represented the thrid deployment in a two week period. RV51 was initially required and crewed by members from Pine Mountain RFB and our one and only Brian Evans was sent to join a crew from Central Lockyer as part of the strike team from South east QLD. This is Brian's story.
I met up with my crew and their Canter; Central Lockyer 51, at Blacksoil. We headed to Kilkeven with the rest of the strike team,stopping at Nanango for a rest to stretch the legs, arriving at Kilkeiven at 11.30hrs just in time for lunch. It was then off to the fire ground checking our area, which on the map was called HARLEY at approx 60 hectares, and another area was called Mariott. We went around our area noting all, while it was still light, then started attacking the fires still burning, of which there were many small but still numerous.
We came in for dinner but when we tried to start the Canter; no go. the starter motor had packed it. Anyway, after we fixed it, it was back to area checks and blacking out. In our area we had two houses, one owned by a loverly old lady called Mary living alone with two very old dogs. We got along well with them all, finishing the night shift we left going back to Kilkeiven then back to our place of abode for the night "the name escaping me". A shower, relax a bit and then to bed, the time now being 2230hrs.
Going back next day saw us patrolling again checking the area for any breakouts, none. Mary stopped us telling us she had had no water from yesterday and pointing out the broked polly pipes, cut by the dozer the day before, so John and myself dug a new trench for them to sit in, a neighbor came by joined them and we then filled the trench in giving the house and Mary water. Never a dull moment in the Rural Fire Service! We had morning tea, patrolled a bit more just to make sure then headed back to Kilkeven. We fueled up, had lunch, cleaned the shed and departed for home. The three hour trip back to Blacksoil went quickly, stopping at Nanango do the leg thing again. I said goodbye to my two new friends from Central Lockyer RFB, JOHN and DIANNE, got back home with a jobs well done.
Brian Evans
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