Carlisle River & Gellibrand Fires Reflection from CFA Member

As you might remember, Saturday 10th January 2026 was declared a Total Fire Ban Day for the whole of Victoria. As a CFA member this takes on an additional layer of meaning, I thought it would be worth sharing.

As is usual on a level 4-day, available Deans Marsh Fire Brigade members spend the day at the station - a practice that has been the norm for decades. When conditions escalate to a level 4 (based on forest fuel load, temperature and wind strength) members are placed on high alert standby.

They are contacted by their phone and pager (all members carry a pager) and respond immediately to the station. This is a necessary precaution to ensure crews can respond to any fire in our district or neighbouring areas as quickly, and efficiently as possible, saving crucial minutes.

If members had to drive in from their properties across the district, change into their gear and wait for sufficient crew numbers before departing, valuable time would be lost.

Deans Marsh CFA members will staff their station all day on these level 4 days. Ideally, these days pass quietly - spent chatting, catching up on farm talk, family & community news and undertaking any training or updates as needed.

The incident monitor remains constantly on and updating. If there is a fire anywhere in the state, updates are closely observed - particularly if the fire is nearby.

Saturday the 10th of January was no different - until the call came for Deans Marsh CFA to supply a truck with a 4 man crew for a strike team to the Carlisle River fire.

A strike team consists of 5 trucks, crew members and an FCV (Fire Control Vehicle -which is a 4WD that supports and coordinates the strike team). As the Deans Marsh brigade has two trucks, one could be deployed, while the second remained in town to protect our community if needed.

Four members were ready to go, with enough remaining to staff the station - it was a straight forward decision. The initial crew worked through the day and was replaced by another four members for the night shift and again on Sunday morning.

The truck remained at the Carlisle River fire, while incoming and outgoing crews travelled by courier bus alongside members from neighbouring brigades.

Fighting a bushfire of this scale involves an enormous, coordinated effort - local & interstate crews working together. Rivalries are put aside as everyone unites to tackle the fire with every available resource and determination. Given the difficult terrain and dense bush, the air wing was deployed in full force (helicopters and fixed - wing aircraft). Helicopters of various sizes, including the Blackhawk, were constantly in operation. Able to refill from private dams, swimming pools - and in this case - Lake Colac, they can carry up to 11,000 litres of water. They refill quickly and return to the fireground promptly for repeated drops.

Some fixed-wing aircraft must land to refill, often flying back to Avalon Airport where they are replenished by waiting water tankers. They then return to the fire ground and may be guided by spotter planes and ground crews to ensure water is dropped for maximum effectiveness.

Bulldozers work to clear large containment lines ahead of the fire, creating access for vehicles and attempting to stop the fire's advances and spot fires. These machines often operate overnight in a relentless effort to contain the blaze.

"Slip-on" units (4WD Utes fitted with water tanks and pumps) move around the fire's perimeter protecting properties that border bushland and accessing areas larger trucks cannot reach.

Fire trucks work alongside these slip-on units, refilling them from available water sources and patrolling properties on the fire's edge. Crews enter bushland where possible to extinguish outbreaks. It is nonstop work.

This fire may continue to burn for many weeks. With six to eight weeks of the fire season still ahead, it is important that everyone remains vigilant and prioritises safety.

The Deans Marsh fire brigade is always welcoming new members - everyone is encouraged to consider getting involved.

Paul Holohan CFA Member