Residents flee flames

By Casey Neill
BELGRAVE residents fled their homes on Sunday night as fire threatened to take hold in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Police are investigating the cause of the grass and scrub fire which started near Terrys Avenue and Sandells Road in Tecoma about 5pm.
Lilydale CIU and Arson Squad detectives examined the scene yesterday (Monday).
“We didn’t really find anything more than we found last night,” Senior Detective Ian Marr told the Mail.
Detectives have called in forensic experts to determine how the blaze ignited.
“The circumstances of the fire are suspicious,” Sen Det Marr said.
“We could find no natural cause.”
The CFA issued urgent threat warnings to Ferny Creek, Sherbrooke, Kallista, Tecoma and Belgrave residents as more than 20 trucks, 135 crew members, the ‘Elvis’ firefighting helicopter and two other helicopters battled to contain the flames.
Belgrave CFA captain Phil Keep said crews controlled the fire within two hours.
The fire burnt through almost four hectares of bushland before it was declared contained at 9.45pm. Mr Keep left the scene at 1am.
“If we hadn’t got onto it as quick as we did it could have taken hold,” he said.
Mr Keep said the flames were “reasonably close” to houses, but none were under direct threat.
“We monitored it and were on the lookout for embers,” he said.
He said weather conditions were quite calm.
“But once the fire got going it was generating its own wind which pushed it along,” he said.
Mr Keep said several residents fled their homes.
“Things happened pretty quickly,” he said.
“The crews did a great job.”
He thanked auxiliary crew members, who kept fire fighters going with food and other supplies.
Mr Keep said the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) was now looking after the scene.
“They’re taking care of a few hot spots and a few trees and logs still smouldering,” he said. Meanwhile, Knox CIU’s Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Goldrisk said police were still investigating the cause of the blaze that threatened homes in Upper Ferntree Gully’s Quarry Road on Black Saturday.
Det Act Sen Sgt Goldrisk said the cause may have been deliberate, accidental or environmental.
“Until we know one way or the other we treat them all as suspicious,” he said.
He said the area where the fire started was shrouded by foliage and thick underbrush.
“It could have been a discarded cigarette butt, it could have been any number of things,” he said. Police urged anyone with information on either blaze to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.