Kaniva fire brigade group crews were busy battling a number of fires over the weekend.

On Friday lightning started a fire on Coastview at approximately 11.38pm. Broughton, Dinyarrak, Telopea and Sandsmere tankers were in attendance.

A second fire occurred on Blue Hills Telopea at approximately 12.06am, in which Yanac, Leeor, Yearinga and Wolseley Senior Bordertown tankers and vehicles were in attendance.

Kaniva and Sth Lillimur attended a fire on Brimble Road Lillimur before Sth Lillimur went to Blue Hills fire. Lawloit also attended at this time.

Kaniva tanker were disabled and stayed to be retrieved later that night. The crew dispersed onto other trucks.

A spokesperson said, “We had a relief crew come from Horsham with region spare truck and fcv–region spare stayed to replace Kaniva, and we also had a relief crew come from Warracknabeal.”

CFA had a dozer on the Blue Hill fire on Saturday night and one on Coatview fire early Saturday morning.

At approximately 8.50am on Saturday morning, we had another fire pop up at Yanipy South West of Kaniva. South Lillimur, Leeor, Sandsmere and Lawloit tankers attended this fire.

The local CFA are grateful for the local support. SES delivered food to firefighters.

Harvest guidelines were put in place from 10am until 6 pm; the fire brigade had no resources left if a paddock incident happened. 

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 15 November 2023.