Bushfire zone like Iraq war

Alex de Vos
A Lara firefighter has compared scenes from Victoria’s bushfires to the war in Iraq.
“The way the cars were thrown around the road and all the destruction — it was like a war zone out there,” volunteer fireman Kyle McKiernan told the Independent.
“Next time you see the news about what’s happening in Iraq you’ll have some idea about what it’s like.
“It’s really the only way I can describe it.”
Mr McKiernan said he spent four days fighting fires, searching for bodies and escorting media through fire-ravaged areas at Kinglake before returning home to his family in Lara last week.
He said he was still trying to comprehend the tragedy.
“It was far worse than anything I’ve ever seen before and hopefully I never see it again in my lifetime,” Mr McKiernan said.
“The stench and the damage caused by the fires was unbelievable.”
Amid the carnage, Mr McKiernan said he drew strength from the generosity and support of residents and community groups.
“The support up there was fantastic,” he said.
“One night we were sitting down eating tea and some people from the Salvation Army came and sat down – we didn’t even know them and they just starting talking to us.
“I think talking about it really helps.”
After coming face to face with a bushfire in Anakie three years ago, Mr McKiernan decided to join Lara’s fire brigade.
“During the Anakie fires I helped defend a friend’s property and after that I decided I was going to learn how to do it properly,” he said.
“I wish I’d joined a lot earlier.”
CFA Region 7 operations manager Bob Barry said the authority sent more than 600 firefighters to tackle Victoria’s bushfires.
He said the CFA would continue sending firefighters to affected areas “until this campaign is finished”.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” Mr Barry said.
He praised CFA volunteers for their “commitment and support”.
“We couldn’t do this without the good grace of our volunteers and their employers.”