By Gabriella Vukman
Ferny Creek residents were rescued from their home late on Monday night after a mountain ash crashed through their ceiling.
At approximately 10.30pm the Emerald SES received a phone call requesting their help to rescue six people who were trapped inside their home due to a fallen tree blocking their exits.
“We got to the rescues in Ferny Creek at 11pm,” unit controller Ben Owen said.
“We responded to what we call a priority one category call so we went as quickly as we could to rescue the trapped persons.
“We arrived to find one person injured. The rest of them were trapped in the sense that they couldn’t get out of the front door but they were ok.”
The scene was attended by Ambulance Victoria, rescue units from Monbulk CFA, Knox and Emerald SES, Victoria Police and fellow CFA brigades for support.
“The house was demolished by a falling mountain ash tree. There were six occupants who were initially trapped or had difficulty getting out so it was about making sure they could get out,” Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA Lieutenant John Schauble said.
“So it was really about ensuring that the access was safe and then getting them out of the house.
“We had more than 80 mills of rain and it was foggy. Roads were waterlogged, that didn’t help either.”
The SES assisted with turning off the power and gas to make the dwelling safe.
“The ambulance crew supported the person that needed medical treatment and they walked out to the ambulance,” Mr Owen said.
“We helped the people go to a neighbouring property to exit the building.
“It was dark and rainy but all services worked well to check that the people were all OK and help them out of the house and ensure their safety.”
Along with Monday’s heavy rainfall, there was a great demand for emergency services in the hills.
“We’ve had upwards of 50 calls to the Emerald unit. Lots of flooding, water in the houses, water through down lights, water coming from blocked drains into houses so we’ve been pretty busy. We have had three members active since the middle of the day yesterday,” Mr Owen said on Tuesday 16 July.
“We’ve got two crews active now and half a dozen still outstanding requests for assistance we need to get out this morning.”
