In a constituency question to Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward, the One Nation MP raised what she described as concerning examples of CFA crews being ordered by commanding officers away from fire scenes, leaving residents to fight fires by themselves, using their own equipment.
“In the face of catastrophic bushfires, affected communities joined together to help save each other’s homes and livelihoods with great courage and resilience,” Ms Tyrrell said.
“Once again our brave CFA members came to the rescue, continuously fighting fires for days on end to save properties and lives.
“In the wake of the fires, however, I have been told stories by my constituents of CFA crews being ordered from fires by commanding officers, leaving property owners to battle the fires alone with their own equipment.”
Ms Tyrell referred to an instance involving Cameron Webb from Kanumbra (south of Merton).
Mr Webb told Country News he was at his family beef farm on January 9 when eight CFA trucks left the property at the request of their senior management and returned to Yarck.
Mr Webb said they could have withdrawn some of the trucks and left some behind to assist in protecting the property. The family went on to fight the fire themselves.
The farm lost 30 cattle, a hay shed and 1200 bales.
He said the modern-day CFA seemed to have management that was risk averse at the expense of carrying out firefighting duties.
“The people on the ground at the fire front should be able to make decisions about self-preservation as well as getting the job done,” he said.
Ms Tyrrell said similar incidents were experienced by residents at Koetong in the north-east and at Mt Teneriffe near Locksley.
“No-one is questioning the commitment of CFA personnel to keep Victorians safe but reports of decisions by commanding officers to stand down units on the front line, leaving residents alone, are extremely concerning,” Ms Tyrrell said.
“I have asked Minister Ward to inquire into the circumstances surrounding these decisions because my constituents affected deserve answers.”
