Battle to control underground fire

TWELVE metropolitan and regional fire crews spent a week working to contain an “extremely challenging” underground peat fire at a private property in Lang Lang.
The CFA said the cause of the fire, which was burning through the dried out and decomposed plant and soil, was unknown.
At 5.30pm on Sunday 29 November, a resident alerted Lang Lang CFA to the peat fire on a private property at the end of Samuels Lane near McDonalds Track in Lang Lang.
For the next seven days, crews from Kooweerup, Bayles, Pakenham, Upper Beaconsfield Cardinia, Heath Hill, Loch, Kernot, Hallam, Dandenong, Cranbourne and Wonthaggi worked to contain the fire.
“(It had) proven to be an extremely challenging and time consuming fire as it burns underground,” South East Region CFA Brigade Administration Support Officer Lisa Hicks said.
Heavy machinery from Metro Quarry Group was used by fire-fighters to get access to the fire and Cardinia Shire Council also provided water from its storage tanks.
Lang Lang CFA Captain Mark Mcpherson thanked those involved after their long slog paid off.
“We couldn’t have done it without their help,” he said of the donation by the quarry operators in Nyora and Lang Lang.
“I would also like to pass on our thanks to Cardinia shire for the use of their water tankers and, of course, the owner of the property for their equipment.
“Also, a special thanks to the Lang Lang Bakery that supplied many lunches and treats to keep us going.”
Fire crews will continue to monitor the site over the next few days in case the fire flares up again.