That fateful afternoon of Wednesday 16th February 1983 started off as a far from normal day At 7am the temperature had already reached 34 degrees Celsius ( 98 degrees Fahrenheit) there was a strong northerly blowing and it had been declared a day of Total Fire Ban. There had been a drought the year just passed and the country was as dry as dry could be. Later in the day, the humidity would reach an all time low, around the 10 % mark

Over 200 fires where reported on this day all over the state, with emergency crews stretched to the limit. By 3:00 pm the temperate had reached 43 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) and the humidity was at 8% with a northerly wind reaching 105kph. All hell was about to break loose. A fire was reported in South Belgrave and was approaching townships at a great rate of speed. Tankers from Narre Warren, Berwick, Cockatoo and Belgrave were dispatched to the South Belgrave area. By this time there were large fires burning in Cockatoo and Beaconsfield, a wind change was predicted for Midnight so everyone had to dig deep to prepare for the change.

At 8.55pm that evening, 3 hours earlier than expected, the unimaginable occurred. The change came through.

A call was received from Narre Warren tanker that they and another tanker from Panton Hill where in trouble and trapped. They where situated on St Georges Road, Upper Beaconsfield, on the top of a hill. When the change came through the fire travelled from High St, up the hill to St Georges Rd, a distance of half a kilometre, in 11 Seconds. With such speed and ferocity, they never stood a chance. The radio went dead, fire-fighters were fighting for their own lives, trying to take cover by getting under their trucks for protection. Usually a wind change will last 15 minutes and then the rain comes, this one lasted two hours and there was no rain.

Forty seven people, fire-fighters and civilians, were to die on this day at fires all over the state. Forty six of these people died when the wind changed. The fire was later recorded by experts to have produced 120,000 kw of energy for every one metre of the fire line. A fire-fighter can stand up to 4,000 kw of energy.

At dawn the next morning two burnt out fire trucks and twelve fire fighters where discovered by Narre Warren First Lieutenant, Frank Clarke at St Georges Rd, Upper Beaconsfield. One of those on the truck was his Captain, and 5 other members from Narre Warren. May they never be forgotten and may they rest in peace.

Recently, with the help of the City of Casey, a memorial to the Firefighters that lost their lives on Ash Wednesday was established within the Narre Warren area. It is located on the corner of Princes Hwy and Magid Drive, Narre Warren. Further along Magid Drive, from where the memorial is located, is a row of trees that was planted soon after the Ash Wednesday fires. Seven of these trees are dedicated to the Narre Warren Firefighters that lost their lives.

Facts about the Ash Wednesday fires

Area Burnt: 2,100sqkms or 250,000hectares
Deaths: 47
Fire Fighters Dead: 14
Houses Destroyed: 2,090
Farms Damaged: 1,230
7,000 cattle
20.000 sheep
6,000km's of fencing

Resources Used

15,000 Volunteers
1,200 Forest personal
200 F/F from National Parks
1,000 Police
600 Defence Force
338 Fire Trucks
111 Bulldozers
13 Helicopters
13 Fixed Wing