Summer strikes

At 1pm on the 9th February 2014 we all came close to knowing someone affected by Victorian fires.  A blaze started on the Calder Hwy close to our McGregor Rd house where we lived in the 90's.  A strong norhterly wind and temperatures in the low 40's again (same day as Norm's triathalon - see next story) guaranteed that this was not going to smoulder out.
The fire headed south along the Calder to Gisborne Sth, and them a southwest change sweep this grass fire straight towards Mel & Mark's property - Phase Park.  The fire sweep around the olive farm (where we had morning tea with Marg on her birthday last Sept) and set a target on Riddell Creek.
Mel's fire plan worked as horses were shuffled into the inner dust bowl paddocks as Elvis flew overhead dropping thousands of litres of water on the paddocks in the path of the racing grass fire.
It eventually swept to the west of the property, took out 3 homes on its way to Riddells Creek where is was stopped just as it was starting to consume the railway sleepers at the station 20km away. 

TV news broadcast

Check out the news broadcast.  Elvis is dropping water at the back of Phase Park round yard about 12 secs into the broadcast.  The fire trucks are on the road out the front of Phase Park.