Catastrophic chaos: Toc firefighters involved in Yarroweyah ‘burnover’
District volunteers have endured some of the most dangerous firefighting conditions possible in the past week, spearheaded by extreme and catastrophic level bush fires.
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Several fires started on Friday, the final day of an extended heatwave, spreading across large areas of Victoria and with some also in the Southern Riverina region.
Some are still burning today.
Brigades in NSW and Victoria were all on high alert, with local brigades deployed at several locations to provide assistance.
All firefighting methods at the disposal of the Victorian and NSW agencies were used, including aerial support.
Cobram and Tocumwal firefighters were particularly lucky to be uninjured in a ‘burnover’ during the Yarroweyah fire.
It ignited at around 1pm on Friday, at the top of Benalla Rd, and rapidly intensified under scorching temperatures and strong winds.
The blaze pushed south along Benalla-Tocumwal Rd, prompting a series of escalating emergency warnings as conditions deteriorated.
According to the State Control Centre, the fire ultimately burned 1531 hectares and destroyed 12 structures, many of them homes.
Initial ‘watch and act’ messages were issued for Cobram and Yarroweyah, soon expanding to include Muckatah, Katamatite, Katunga and Naring as the fire front widened.
By 2.35pm, the situation had worsened dramatically and a ‘leave immediately’ warning was issued for multiple towns as the grass fire travelled south‑east from the Murray Valley Highway toward Muckatah.
Further alerts followed as the fire crossed Benalla-Tocumwal Rd, threatening to spread further.
Power outages were reported across Cobram, Muckatah and Yarroweyah, with many residents still without electricity as of Monday.
At 5.16pm, Katamatite residents were told to evacuate immediately, with authorities warning the fire was expected to reach the town within two hours and was beyond firefighters’ control.
Evacuees were directed to the Shepparton Showgrounds as the fire front approached.
By Sunday morning, January 11, the fire was contained and residents were advised it was safe to return.
Amid the chaos at Yarroweyah on Friday, two tankers from Cobram and Tocumwal were caught in a burnover - one of the most dangerous situations firefighters can face.
In a statement, Cobram Fire Brigade Captain Matt Dehne said both crews were forced to issue mayday calls as fire engulfed their vehicles.
Capt Dehne said thanks to rigorous Victorian Country Fire Authority and NSW Rural Fire Service training, firefighters executed burnover procedures flawlessly.
He said this “ultimately saved lives.”
“We were incredibly fortunate to have air support on scene, which was able to drop water over the tankers.
“As a result, all crew members walked away with nothing more than some shock — and one hell of a story to tell.
“After being given the all-clear, both crews quickly swung back into action.
“Ex-captain Adrian Hilder was the crew leader at the time, and it was his quick thinking, training, and decisive actions that helped save the lives of both the Cobram and Tocumwal tanker crews.”
NSW RFS Federation Zone Group Captain and Berrigan firefighter Greyd’n Davis said the already dangerous fire conditions across the region were exacerbated by news that at least four fires across the district between January 7 and 11 were allegedly deliberately lit.
He said the pattern of ignitions had crews “on high alert” throughout the week.
“It very much kept us on our toes,” he said.
The strain on resources was evident again on Friday when a blaze broke out on Whitehead Rd at Corowa, prompting a major district response.
Twelve RFS vehicles attended alongside Fire + Rescue NSW crews, as the fire pushed close to town, raising real fears that homes could be lost.
Once the Corowa fire was contained, crews from Finley, Berrigan, Tocumwal, Barooga and multiple RFS support vehicles were immediately redeployed to the eastern side of the Yarroweyah fire, taking on the front running from the Murray Valley Highway through to Tocumwal-Benalla Rd in support of CFA operations.
After the worst of the fire activity eased, Grp Capt Davis said firefighters returned to the affected areas to check on residents and offer support.
“They were just so grateful,” he said.
“The fire is very scintillating, but it’s the after‑effects that can be just as damaging.”
He is now working to organise BlazeAid assistance for those who have lost fencing, feed or infrastructure in the fires.
Grp Capt Davis said the dedication shown by volunteers across the region was extraordinary.
“I could not speak more highly of the troops. There were a lot of people doing amazing things that you aren’t going to hear about,” he said.
“I am in awe and so rapt with the support the RFS has, both internally among each other and from the wider community.”
Grp Capt Davis warned that the projected weather pattern for late January is expected to mirror the conditions that fuelled last week’s fires.
“I implore people to be as careful as possible,” he said.
“The combination of extreme winds, dry grasses and limited water access make firefighting exceptionally difficult.
“We struggle to get water to fight some of these fires.
“The unprecedented wind and the dry grasses, the conditions have been extreme.”
Tocumwal and other Southern Border RFS teams joined with other brigades from the Mid Murray, Murrumbidgee Irrigation ARea and Riverina RFS regions in the Euroa and Yea regions.
Additional trucks from Tocumwal, Finley, Barooga and Mount Gwynne were deployed to reinforce containment lines around Barooga and Yarraweyah as winds shifted.
With CFA resources stretched across the state, Tocumwal’s Fire + Rescue NSW brigade also responded to calls for assistance at Yarroweyah.
Tocumwal FRNSW Captain Ian Desailly said at Yarrowhyah, a grass fire was threatening homes.
Working alongside CFA and NSW RFS, Capt Desailly said crews focused on asset protection as fire activity intensified.
Their combined efforts successfully saved five homes.
Capt Desailly praised the response, saying the firefighters “did a really good job” under extremely challenging conditions.
Firefighters not involved in strike teams remained to cover fire protection at home, and were also kept busy.
In the Mid Murray region, there were fires in the Jerilderie and Blighty regions.
In the Southern Border region, a fire was reported at Savernake.
The largest incident in the Mid Murray Zone was at Bundure on Friday - about 33km north of Jerilderie - which burned about 230 hectares.
The blaze was supported by aircraft, heavy plant and RFS appliances from the Mid Murray, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and Southern Border RFS zones.
It is suspected to have originated from lightning strikes a week earlier, with high winds causing it to reignite.
A second fire in the same general area broke out on Sunday, along the Columbo Creek, also believed to have been sparked by earlier lightning.
That fire burned about 40 hectares and had local Mid Murray crews, heavy machinery and aircraft working to contain it.
Both fires remain active with crews still on the ground.
On Friday, a smaller fire ignited in the Blighty area but was quickly brought under control by local members, burning only a couple of hectares.
Local community groups and businesses are offering a range of support, including Finley Lakeside Tourist Park, which is so far providing accommodation from three families who had to evacuate from their homes.
“Anything we can do in Finley to help - I feel is just part of being community minded,” said Renee Moritz from the park.
“The offer is still open.
‘We’ll accept people with pets that are fire affected, campers on the river that need a place to go, anyone.”
Locals and visitors alike are being encouraged to avoid fire affected areas where possible.
Updates on reported fires, fire danger ratings and new fire alerts are available using the VicEmergency incident and warnings interactive map, or the NSW Hazards Near Me app.
Smoke cover and smoke sightings from the existing fires are expected to continue until all fires are fully extinguished.
If you see an unattended fire, please call 000 immediately.
For tips on how to stay fire safe and be bushfire ready as the Bush Fire Danger Period continues can be found at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or www.fire.nsw.gov.au.