Local CFA teams answer the call
by Jaime Noye, Warrandyte CFA
13th February 2026
ON WEDNESDAY, January 7, a fire started near Longwood, Victoria, which quickly flared to a large, uncontrollable fire and sparked a widespread emergency response across the state.
CFA volunteers from all our local brigades, once again, packed their gear, left their day jobs and families behind, and joined Strike Teams deploying into fire-affected areas where experience, endurance, and teamwork mattered most.
Among them was Warrandyte CFA volunteer Hugh Dugan, who deployed on Strike Team 1313 to the staging area in Alexandra, working swing shifts made up of 12-hour days and 12-hour night shifts.
“It was long, hard work — but exactly why we train,”
Hugh said.
Operating in and around the Alexandra hills, Hugh’s Strike Team was tasked with blacking out and managing the live edge, working closely alongside Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) crews.
The area was alive with activity, with bulldozers cutting containment lines, helicopters thundering overhead, and ground crews methodically securing what had already burned to prevent flare-ups.
“The coordination was impressive,”
“Everyone knew their role, and it showed.”
Hugh said.
The second day saw Strike Team 1313 staged at the Incident Control Centre from the Alexandra Depot, where crews rotated through taskings, feed, and rest cycles.
Systems and operations were effective, and fatigue was carefully managed.
“It was absolutely worthwhile.
“With not much significant bushfire activity in recent years, this added so much to everyone’s experience bank.
“Everyone got a lot out of it, and a lot of great work was done.”
Strike Team 1313 was a strong mix of brigades, from CFA’s District 13, including Warrandyte Slip-On, Selby Slip-On, Belgrave Heights and South Ultra-Light, Montrose Tanker, and The Basin Tanker; a great example of how CFA brigades combine seamlessly when it matters most.
Hugh was quick to acknowledge the support behind the scenes, where family and workplaces play an important role in supporting our volunteers.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my construction employers for accommodating my absence, so I could deploy.
“That support makes a huge difference.”
The experience clearly left its mark.
Hugh said the learning was invaluable and that he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
In fact, since the interview, Hugh has already redeployed with Warrandyte CFA to the Otway fires.
Photos: CFA MEDIA
Leadership and mentoring were also on display through Strike Team 1314, led by Maroondah Group Officer Shane Murphy, who operated as Strike Team Leader from the Warrandyte Forward Command Vehicle along with Tankers from South Warrandyte, Chirnside Park, Scoresby, Seville, and Upwey.
Strike Team 1314 worked to reinforce containment lines aimed at reducing the spread of fire toward the Eildon area, often facing inaccessible terrain where tankers simply couldn’t reach.
“It was challenging country,”
said GO Murphy.
“From dense ridge bushland to the outer tablelands of Alexandra, and along the Goulburn River.
“We were constantly adapting.”
Crews worked in combination with dozers and FFMV teams, tackling forested areas during the day, responding to 000 calls, and spending evenings patrolling and blacking-out to secure containment lines.
Conditions were far from stable, with road access changing by the minute.
“Roads we’d used earlier to refuel or collect ration packs were suddenly impassable on our attempted returns, due to fallen trees.
“It really highlighted the danger of hazardous trees and exactly why so many roads had to be closed to the public.”
For many CFA members, particularly newer volunteers, the deployment was eye-opening.
“With less fire activity in recent years, a lot of members hadn’t seen this type of bushfire behaviour before.
“It was a critical learning opportunity; with real-world experience you simply can’t replicate in training.”
One standout outcome was the opportunity for mentoring future leaders.
“It was great to be able to mentor up-and-coming Strike Team Leaders,”
GO Murphy said, pointing to Nathan MacDonald from South Warrandyte CFA as a strong example of the next generation stepping up.
That sense of pride and professionalism was echoed by Captain Cameron Mackay of South Warrandyte CFA, whose brigade has been heavily involved since early January.
“We’ve had our members out at the Longwood fire since January 7, utilising both our Tanker and Slip-On unit,”
“I’m extremely proud of the work and professionalism shown by our members while deployed.”
Captain Mackay said.
He was equally proud of those who stayed behind.
“I’m just as proud of the members who remained locally to ensure our own area was protected.
“The fire ran hard and fast, but our people did some amazing work under some very trying weather conditions.”
North Warrandyte CFA was part of the first crews to deploy to Harcourt with Strike Team 1404.
North Warrandyte Tanker 1, part-funded by the 2014 Fireball event, faced conditions that “moved quickly with extreme heat”, said Captain Trent Burriss.
The North Warrandyte team used Thermal Imaging Cameras to monitor hot spots in houses and assets, once the fire passed, to ensure no flare-ups or further damage occurred, whilst continuing to respond to 000 calls in the area.
Captain Burriss shared that 20 of their volunteers have been involved with the deployed Strike Teams, which have included not only the Harcourt fires, but also the Longwood Fires, and the Otways.
“We also tackled a grass fire on the Hume Freeway in Beveridge, on the same day the Longwood Fire started,”
Captain Burriss said.
A contingent of mainly experienced firefighters from North Warrandyte, but also a few newer members experiencing their first strike team activity.
Seventeen volunteers just from the Warrandyte station have deployed.
With another 10 rostered but cancelled due to varying operational needs.
Additionally, the local standby teams in station swarmed on our spike days.
With fires like these, conditions can change rapidly within minutes.
Being deployed at a moment’s notice could make all the difference, rather than waiting for a crew to be assembled over 20 minutes.
Warrandyte Captain Will Hodgson said:
“It’s a true testament to our crews who are prepared and ready for conditions like this”.
Warrandyte CFA pre-summer training commenced back in September, anticipating the dryer conditions this year.
“On every spike day, we have had volunteers give up their time, stand by in the station, and have several of our assets staffed and ready to deploy in minutes, should they be called upon”,
he said.
Together, these deployments tell a familiar but powerful story.
A story of volunteers who step forward when conditions are dangerous (whether they are rostered to deploy or sitting in station ready to go), who learn, adapt, and support other brigades, and who return home more experienced, more capable, and ready for the next call.
Response ready, professional, operationally prepared, and always without hesitation — our local CFA volunteers continue to stand the line.
To protect lives and property.
