Coast fire-fighters aid cyclone victims
Fri 07 April 2006
Jenny Hammer, Journalism
Sunshine Coast fire-fighters have given-up their holidays, family time and work commitments to help the devastated community of Innisfail.
Residents were left wondering how they would rebuild their ravaged lives after Cyclone Larry tore through Innisfail in Far North Queensland on March 20.
Within hours of the 280km winds wreaking their path of destruction, Sunshine Coast fire-fighters were rushing to the devastated area to help shocked residents.
Members of Urban Search & Rescue (USAR), a group of specially trained fire-fighters from the Queensland Fire & Rescue Service, converged on the area to aid those most in need.
Alongside them were other Sunshine Coast fire-fighters who readily volunteered their time to help residents who had lost everything in the wake of Larry’s fury.
Matt Foster, a USAR fire-fighter from Maroochydore, said the scene that confronted them in Innisfail was one of destruction and despair.
“But the locals were so pleased to see us, all we heard was ‘thank god you guys are here’,” Mr Foster said.
USAR immediately set up operations in an open air basketball stadium where they co-ordinated the massive operation.
Task force members scoured the streets to determine whether properties were liveable.
A simple letter pasted on a front window labelled the home. Y meant the home was stable and YT signalled the house was to be “tarped”, thus creating some form of protection for the occupants. The letter N meant demolition, or no entry.
Fire-fighters said this task was difficult as many residents were reluctant to leave their damaged homes.
“In one house we came across a couple who were huddled in their bathroom. They had been there for three days, too frightened to come out,” Mr Foster said.
“We also found a family of six living under a tarp in a damaged shed. The father was out wandering the paddocks trying to recover their belongings, whilst the mother was trying to look after their four children. The youngest was a six-month old baby,” Mr Foster said.
Jon Karas, Captain from Buderim Fire Station experienced similar situations.
His team of fire-fighters arrived in Innisfail the day after the cyclone. Their task was to do what they could to help improve the immediate situation of the residents.
“As we travelled into the Innisfail area, the extent of Larry’s damage increased at a rapid rate.
Buildings were damaged or totally destroyed. Crops were flattened and power lines lay on the ground everywhere,” Mr Karas said.
Whilst surveying the area they came across an elderly couple whose home was knee-deep in putrid water. The letter N had been placed on their window but they were living in their car on the property, as they had nowhere to go.
But regardless of their situation, the residents were still smiling and grateful for any assistance.
“I think that a great sense of community was carrying them through,” Mr Karas said.
Image(s) designed by Mike Hammer
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Submitted Comments
Congratulations on getting this article published in the Weekender magazine.
Gill Cowden
Very involving and emotionally moving story. Interesting treatment of the topic without sensationlizing it.
Gail Loader