Chapter 01

Alerts

At six o’clock on a hot mid February Tuesday morning Thomas John Cowley is listening to the radio weather report while eating breakfast with his wife, Bernadette, and his thirteen year old son, James Thomas. Like all of the rural workers in the area they’re paying close attention to the weather due to worries about the heat and possible fires. The weather people are issuing thunderstorm alerts for the region and the big worry is of a lightning strike starting a fire in the dry crop fields.

The winter started with above average rainfall, but it ended up with only half of the average. Spring started with double the average rainfall for September, but finished with half of the season’s average. The initial rain caused a wild growth spurt, but the months of dry weather means it’s all now a huge fire hazard. Due to political issues very little burning off was done. The environmentalists convinced the state parliament to pass laws limiting the burning off of natural growth, so there’s lots of fuel lying around just waiting for a fire to burn. Adding to that are the crop fields. About half of the crops have been harvested but the stalks are still in the fields waiting to be dealt with after all of the grain is harvested. Any fires will be very hard to deal with, but the predicted thunderstorms and winds could have a fire racing across the fields like a rocket.

Like all rural areas there are no dedicated professional fire-fighters, just the Volunteer Rural Fire Service (RFS) made up of local farmers and staff. A call means they have to get in from their fieldwork to the fire equipment shed then out to the fire: the average response time is fifteen minutes in past fires and exercises. That’s too long in most big fires.

Getting up from the table Tom gives his son and wife a hug and kiss each before driving over to see what his boss wants done today.

Arriving at the main equipment shed of the property over the road, about three minutes’ drive from the farmhouse Tom rents, he parks and gets out. He finds his boss where he expects to find him, in the shed doing a final check of the equipment for use today before taking it out. Tom calls out, “Morning, Bob, what’s on the agenda for today?”

The farm owner, Bob Watt, calls back, “I’m taking the header down to the back field. The used Army fire-truck I bought arrived last night. I want you to get it out and check it over. Fill it with fuel and water then make yourself familiar with it. I’ve got a feeling we’ll need it soon.”

“Right. This the one you were talking about that’s set up for remote operation of some of the deluge hoses?”

“Yep. Make sure it works and is ready to use.” Tom nods. Like Bob, he’s worried about high winds, dry grass, and fires. By the time Tom is in the cab of the fire-truck Bob is driving the header out of the shed.

Five minutes later Tom has the fire-truck beside the water tank while he fills the large on-board storage tanks as most of the vehicle is water storage tanks to supply the two deluge fire hoses mounted just behind the truck’s cabin. The tanks take a lot of water, so he has plenty of time to check the tyres, oil, movement of the hoses, and operation of the auxiliary engines. He even turns on the pumps to check the hoses work. By the time the truck has a full load of water he’s happy it’s in full working order, and then it’s over to the diesel tank to refuel.

After refuelling Tom checks the radio gear all works and it’s set to the frequencies the locals use. All OK. That didn’t take long and there’s a lot of time to go before lunch. Now it’s time to get familiar with it, so Tom drives off across the paddock to see how she handles the fields and the local roads. While he drives in the open field he practices with the remote controls that operate the electric motors to aim the hoses. Damn, it’s hard to drive both the hoses and the truck. He soon learns to set the hoses and to then focus on driving the truck. It really needs two people to work it.

Lightning Strikes

At eight thirty the radio starts sounding off, “General alert. Lightning strike started a fire in the east quadrant of Welsh Downs. We’re on it with our farm tanker and it’s now under control.” About five minutes later, “General alert. Lightning strike started a fire in the west sector of Old Manning Station. It’s under control with farm resources.” This sort of report is common because the farmers often deal with the small fires using their personal gear. But two within ten minutes is not common.

Just after nine o’clock the radio goes again, “General alert. Small fire caused by lightning on the east side of Bennett’s Downs. We got it under control.” By nine thirty another six small fires are reported as being started by lightning. Tom reviews the calls in his mind and he realises there’s a trend there. The fires are moving across the district in a south to north line. Stopping the truck Tom gets out of the cabin to climb on top of it. In the distance, well to the south, is a long wide line of thunder-heads with a lot of lightning activity in them. He gets down and he goes back to refuel and refill with water because he doesn’t like this at all.

By ten o’clock another twenty-six small fires are reported as being dealt with by farm resources. Then the trouble starts. At ten fifteen the alert is, “General call. Major fire at Isaac’s Plains. RFS needed.”

Tom is reaching for the radio when it comes alive again, “Tom, Bob. I’m near the RFS shed. I’ll get this organised. You stay there. I don’t like this. Way too many fires and that’s at the far end of our area. I don’t want to leave us too open.”

Tom grabs the microphone, “Bob, Tom, roger that. Will hold.” He’s not happy about not attending the fire as he’s the second in charge of the local Rural Fire Service Team, second to Bob. But he understands what Bob’s worries are, so he’ll stay to cover the needs here.

Five minutes later the radio announces the RFS is on its way. Ten minutes later the radio announces their arrival on site. After a few more minutes Bob is calling for more help from the next district south of them.

Runaway

Tom is very worried. If Bob is calling for more help then the fire must be big. He waits, listens, and soon learns the fire front is over a kilometre wide when Bob calls in both the neighbouring RFS units at that end of their zone. He’s also reconfirms for Tom to hold where he is.

While he sits in the idling truck Tom thinks about the situation, then he starts to swear when the truck rocks in the heavy wind that just reached him. He thinks, Damn, with this wind pushing it if they don’t get the fire under control the whole district will be burnt out by dinner time.

Tom drives to the fuel depot to refuel the tanker. He doesn’t need to yet, but he’s making sure he’s got full tanks just in case he needs it. When he gets back on the truck he looks over to the south east and he sees a huge wall of smoke with the red flickers of flame in it. It’s too far for him to make out the red lights of the fire-fighter’s vehicles while they fight it.

Climbing into the cabin his hearts stops when the radio goes off, “General emergency. Multiple fires at Masterson Downs. Need RFS.”

Another voice comes over the radio, “Major emergency. Wildfire, wildfire at Masterson Downs. Half a click wide and racing. Evacuate all north of the station. Get out while you can. Repeat, get out now!“

Tom jumps out and gets on top of the truck’s cabin. He looks to the south and can see a large wall of flame racing toward him. The nearest help is a good thirty minutes away. He looks at the farms and he can see people scrambling as they dive into vehicles to get out while they can.

Turning to his right Tom sees a sight to make his blood freeze. The kids and mothers at the local school are in the yard having lunch. It’s obvious they’ve not heard the alert. Jumping into the truck he puts it into gear and he races off to the small local primary school.

While racing to the school Tom flicks on the state wide fire service radio and announces, “All units, general emergency. Bennett’s Road RFS has an uncontrollable wildfire and is declaring a general evacuation for all areas north of the Bennett’s Road control area. Get them out of there.”

While racing across the kilometre to the school he hears the radio confirmations from the other districts and central command. He hopes they can organise a response to stop this before the whole region goes up in flames. But now he’s got a bigger worry: a school full of kids to save.

He thinks about the fire while driving, there’s no way he can save the school, he’ll be flat chat keeping this truck and the bus safe with this single unit. Then he realises there’s one way, and only one way, he can get them out. The fire is already going so fast they won’t be safe going north and no time to get clear to the east or west, so the only way out is to go south, through the fire wall and to get behind it as fast as they can.

Reactions

Everyone in the yard looks up when the olive Army fire-truck roars in the gate and comes to a tyre screeching halt on the edge of the yard. Tom turns on the truck’s public address system, “Everyone, we’ve a major fire. Forget everything and get on the bus. I can only get the one vehicle out, so all of you cram aboard the bus.”

It’s a good thing they all know Tom and know not to argue when it’s about a fire. The kids drop their toys and food to race for the bus. A few mothers head toward their cars, so he adds, “I said forget the rest. Get on the bus, screw the cars. You won’t have a chance in them.” One very stubborn teacher hops into her sports car and she speeds down the drive. The others turnabout and race aboard the bus.

Within two minutes of arriving Tom is leading the bus down the drive while he talks to the driver on the radio. The bus hasn’t had long enough for the diesel engine to warm up properly, so it’s a bit sluggish, but it will be much better in a few minutes. Tom says, “Janice, the fire is big and flying along. We can’t hope to outrun it to the north, east, or west. Our only hope is to go south to bust through the firewall. Stay on my tail. As we get closer to the fire get as close as you can. I’ll set the hoses to spray water out in a fan to cool the air around us to keep us as safe as I can. The worst part will be the firewall, as that’s the hottest part. The danger is I don’t know how deep the area of fire behind the firewall is. This is our only chance, so stick close and pray. Shut all of your windows.”

“OK, Tom, good luck, and let’s go,” is her reply.

They don’t have long to worry because the road here runs north south and when they turn right onto the road from the school access driveway they’re heading at the fire at almost the same speed it’s heading to them. The very speed of their approach will help them pass the firewall, but the fire zone behind it is a big worry.

Tom activates the radio again, “Jacko, are you and your people still at Masterson Downs?”

“Yes, Tom. We’re following behind it, putting out what we can.”

“Go to Bennett’s Road and see how far along it you can get putting the fire out. I’ve got a fire-truck and a bus load of kids, and our only hope is to bust through the fire to the south. If you can shorten the area on fire right beside the road you’ll help us a lot.”

“OK, we’ll get over there. It should only take a couple of minutes to get there because we’re in the big wheat paddock beside the road at the moment.”

Breakout

Two minutes after leaving the school Tom sets the hoses onto wide spray at an upward angle of forty-five degrees and he starts the pumps. The water goes out in an area twice as wide as the truck and about a third higher too. The spray is falling just in front of the truck and it’s being blown back over the truck toward the bus, creating an oval shaped envelope of cooler air without flames. Just seconds before he enters the firewall Tom can feel the cooling effect as soon as the water starts to fall. Then the air gets a bit warmer. Both the truck and the bus are going as fast as they can. Janice keeps calling to tell Tom she can go faster, so he’s been speeding up and they’re now over eighty kilometres per hour when they enter the fire which is racing north at about the same speed.

In a flash they’re through the front of the firewall, the hottest part of the fire and into the burning fire zone it’s leaving behind it. The smoke and flames from both sides flow across the road and make it almost impossible to see. Their only real saving grace is the road here is dead straight for several kilometres and Tom hopes to be through the fire before the next set of bends because that can get real nasty real quick

The fire seems to be thinning out when Tom crashes into a burnt out wreck on the road. The sheer strength of the truck and its speed gives him a moment to deal with the situation when he turns to push the wreck off the road while speaking on the radio, “Janice, go round on my right. I’ve hit a wrecked vehicle, don’t hit me.” He listens to her acknowledge the order while he also listens to his truck protest the damage to it. It’s not steering well and he can feel it dropping to the left while it slows down, despite him pushing down on the accelerator. So he thinks the tyre or wheel on that side is done in.

Making a snap decision Tom activates the radio, “Janice, floor it. I’ll spray you from behind while I can.” He reaches for the hose controls and sets them for a concentrated spray while he aims them to fall just in front of and on the bus.

Janice has a hard time getting the words, “Roger that,” out past the choking in her throat as she understands what’s happening in the truck.

A small hand takes the radio off her and James Cowley activates it as he starts to sing while crying. He, too, understands the meaning of his father’s last transmission, “God be with you ‘till we meet again,...”

All those on the frequency understand what’s happening and they all keep quiet while the boy’s clear soprano sings the hymn. After a few words Tom’s baritone joins in with, “... ‘till we meet, ‘till we meet, ‘till we meet at Jesus feet,...”

The bus moves forward with the spray of water moving over it in an erratic manner while Tom adjusts the angle, distance, and strength of spray along the road to stay with where he thinks the bus is. The falling water hits the bus often enough to keep it safe and cool enough for the passengers. Just as James finishes the first verse the bus bursts out of the fire zone and into the pocket of doused fire created by Jacko and his workers. Jacko waves them on down the road so they can concentrate on trying to get to the truck in time to save Tom.

Hearing this Tom puts the hoses back onto spray and aimed above the truck. This cools much of the area around the truck, but it’s already sustained a lot of fire damage and the heat is very severe.

The bus pulls up down the road, well behind the fire, while James finishes the hymn. He releases the button on the radio. A moment’s silence, and then they hear Tom, “The Lord is my shepherd, I...” and it goes on until “ ... my cup runneth o’er...” as the radio goes silent when the truck’s radio antennae melts from the radiated heat of the fire.

After a minute’s silence James picks up the radio again and he starts to sing again, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the...” When he finishes the final verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, his father’s favourite hymn, he drops the microphone while his body heaves with his sobs. Janice turns in her seat and hugs him to her.

While Janice holds James she says a short prayer of thanks for Tom’s help, and she hopes James’ mother, Bernadette, is safe and sound in town or somewhere else.

After the Fire

About half an hour after the breakout Janice takes the bus and all of the passengers to her home as it’s just down the road from Masterson Downs. They get out and go inside. Many of the women have cell phones so they call other family members to let them know they’re safe and to learn how they are. The others use Janice’s phone to call family. Janice is worried when she can’t get a response from Bernadette’s cell phone.

All of the children are tired from the events, James more than the rest and he’s almost asleep on his feet. Janice makes him have a shower and get dressed in some clothes belonging to her son who’s about the same size. Within half an hour of arriving at the farmhouse an exhausted James is asleep in her spare bedroom.

By mid-afternoon the local Country Women’s Association has a call centre set up in one of the Bowen’s Creek Council meeting rooms with a dozen phone lines manned by volunteers. Different whiteboards list missing people, known to be alive but away from home and the known dead. No answer from Bernadette’s phone two hours after Janice gets home, so she has Bernadette Cowley listed as missing.

Nightfall sees all of the state and national emergency support services on site in the area because the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force provide transport to get them to the affected area. Tents and food arrive by the truck load to house and feed those without homes now.

The next morning Janice calls Bob Watt to see what she can find out about Tom’s family so she can contact them. All of the employment information Bob has lists only James and Bernadette as next of kin and they can’t think of any more. She wants to pass James on to his relatives since she has no room for him to stay with her for more than a few days.

It’s near lunchtime when the local police tell Bob they’ve identified Bernadette’s burnt out wreck of a car with what they think is her body. With this information Bob calls on Janice to collect James and he takes him home to his house. He’s got plenty of room because the large house has been all but empty since his wife died a few years ago and many years ago his five children left home to start their own families.

The house James’ parents rented from Bob is destroyed in the fire. However, Bob’s house, two kilometres further east, is untouched by the fire due to a wind shift pushing it a little to the side before it reached there. This leaves James with only the clothes on his back and the change of clothes Janice gave him.

James has nowhere else to stay and no living relatives he knows of. He just stays on with Bob while things are sorted out by others. The situation is still unchanged several weeks later. For some reason neither seems interested in making any changes to the situation.

Despite James being an orphan no one informs the Child Welfare people about his situation. James calls Bob ‘Pop’ because he’s near the same age as many of Bob’s grandchildren who live interstate. When they have to complete paperwork for the government Bob takes James into the city of Rivers to the Centrelink office and helps him with it. Due to how they interact the staff assume Bob is his maternal grandfather and they note the ‘fact’ James is with his grandfather on their file. This error helps with processing the paperwork and it also helps to keep the Child Welfare people out of their lives because the government computer records show James is living with a close family member. None of the bureaucrats think to do a detailed records check on the family or their relationship.

Note: The paperwork they lodge is to change the Commonwealth Government Student Support payment for James to go direct into his own bank account which he already has, and James also lodges claims for Commonwealth Government Special Support payments to those who lost their residence and clothes in the fire.

Aftermath

The fire races across the state all afternoon and it takes another four days to be put out. Seventy-three people lose their lives in the fire, most in the first few hours while it moves faster than they can get out of its way. The Coroner’s Enquiry determines the main cause of the fire getting out of control is the amount of natural growth fuel along the several watercourses on the property Masterson Downs. The owner is found to be blameless due to the laws in place as the evidence includes his fines for removing more of the natural growth than he was allowed by the current laws. Estimated property damage is over one hundred million dollars.

The political fallout of the event results in a change of government at the state election later that year, and a change of the laws involved.

The body of the teacher who ignored Tom is found in the burnt out wreck of her car only a few kilometres from the school.

Local fund raising activities are held to assist those who lost their houses or loved ones in the fire. Insurance companies are quick to pay out claims for death or property damage, due to government pressure.

The students of the Bennett’s Road School attend the Bowen’s Creek School for the rest of the year. The replacement primary school will take until Christmas to be built and made ready.

Although it costs more than buying another used one does, the locals clean up and rebuild the fire-truck Tom drove and name it Tom’s Tanker. A new Rural Fire Service facility is built at Bennett’s Road and it’s named the Cowley Centre with a plaque about Tom mounted in the entrance way. The previous facility was burnt down in the fire.

The next year, on Australia Day, Bob takes James to Canberra so he can be presented with the Valour Cross the government awards Tom for his actions in saving the bus load of children that day. It’s a very solemn trip for both of them, both going there and returning to the farm.