- Firefighter who started a blaze in Balmoral, Victoria, Wednesday is ’embarrassed’
- The CFA member took a cigarette lighter to long grass during a safety briefing
- Residents were told it was too late to leave, and the school went into lockdown
- The CFA apologised to the Balmoral community for the accidentally lit fire
The firefighting officer who accidentally started the fire that came dangerously close to wiping out a Victorian town on Wednesday is ‘very embarrassed’.
The fire was ignited by a Country Fire Authority member who took a cigarette lighter to long grass during a safety briefing at Balmoral’s recreation reserve about 3pm.
‘We do apologise to the Balmoral community,’ CFA deputy chief officer Alen Slijepcevic told radio station 3AW Thursday.
‘Thankfully there was no significant property damage done.’
A fire in the Victorian town of Balmoral Wednesday was started by a firefighter who took a cigarette lighter to long grass during a safety briefing
‘We do apologise to the Balmoral community,’ CFA deputy chief officer Alen Slijepcevic said
An emergency warning was issued just after 3pm, putting 130 students at nearby Balmoral Community College into lockdown.
The blaze was fought by both land and air CFA crews and was brought under control by 4.13pm, after coming within two kilometres of the school.
Residents were warned to shelter indoors and told it was too late to leave their homes as the fire burned in a southerly direction toward the Southern Grampians.
Temperatures soared into the high 30s, with neighbouring town Kanagulk recording a sorching 39.4 degrees.
An independent investigation into the burn is being conducted, and the member responsible for igniting it has not been stood down.
The fire was ignited at a safety briefing at Balmoral’s recreation reserve (pictured) about 3pm