Vic firefighters save homes, pets from bushfire

Victorian firefighters have saved several homes and pets from the bushfire burning through Lancefield. They also saved two Harley Davidson motorbikes and a horse.

Firefighters battle the Lancefield bushfire in Victoria.

Firefighters battle the Lancefield bushfire in Victoria. Source: AAP

Firefighters battling the Victorian bushfires are "buzzing" after saving several houses, pets and Harleys from the ferocious Lancefield blaze.

The first house they saved was in Musk Valley road on Tuesday, after a quick assessment showed it was safe enough to try.

"The fire was about 100 to 200 metres away from us and it looked like a ground fire although it was actually crowning in the trees," CFA crew leader Matthew Pollard said.

"The heat was ridiculously intense and I was constantly feeling embers burning the back of my neck - at first I thought I was being stung."

The crews rescued several dogs that were caged outside on the property and put them inside where they were safe from the ember attacks.

Gas cylinders and a barbecue were also moved.

"The fire threw itself at us and spread around the weatherboard house. It cut off our retreat," Mr Pollard said.
With extra water from a tank on the property, the crew managed to defend the house as a shed was lost and the sound of exploding beer kegs rang in their ears.

They raced to another shed and saved two Harley Davidson motorbikes and took a distressed horse to a paddock away from the flames.

"We felt like we won saving the Harleys, and we knew it was going to be a major win for the homeowner," Mr Pollard said.

After the house was out of danger, the crew sped up the road and saved several other houses as fire crowned the trees and jumped the road.

Weather conditions have helped firefighters working through Thursday night and Friday morning on the Lancefield fire, which is now approximately 2700 hectares.

Winds have decreased and are coming around to the north, so they will be warmer and drier.

Some 123 firefighters are working on the fire front on Friday, along with 22 trucks, 11 helicopters and several bulldozers and excavators.


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Source: AAP


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