Lucinda Tolmie and Allan Appleman helped save Sue and Geoff Herbert’s house during the Narre Warren South fire.
By Kelly Yates
A FAMILY caught up in the Narre Warren South fire say they are lucky their house is still standing.
They praised neighbours who fought the fire with hoses and buckets of water.
Sue and Geoff Herbert were at a wedding last Saturday when the fire tore through Narre Warren South, destroying seven homes and severely damaging several others.
Police said the fire, believed to be deliberately lit, started along Coral Drive near Ormond Road at 5pm.
Mrs Herbert, who has been living along Langbourne Drive for the past six years, said she was thankful to the neighbours and residents for saving her family’s home.
Neighbours formed human chains, with buckets and containers filled with water to stop the fire engulfing the house, according to Ms Herbert.
“We are the lucky ones, as the fire only damaged our backyard and destroyed the cubbyhouse,” she said.
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all those families who have lost everything.”
Allan Appleman was one of the neighbours who fought to save the Herberts’ home.
“After I saw my house was safe and under control I ran to theirs, as I knew they weren’t home,” he said.
“Instinct kicked in and I stayed there to fight off the flames.”
While trying to vent out the smoke that had built up in the house, Mrs Herbert said she felt sorry for the poor people who lost their homes in the fire.
“I’ll be showing my support to the victims by donating clothes,” she said.
Narre Warren Fire Brigade Captain David Beards said five fire trucks and more than 25 firefighters fought the blaze, with the main priority being protecting the properties along Langbourne Drive.
Four firefighters were treated with heat and smoke-related illness.
Captain Beards estimated that it took just over an hour to control the blaze.
“Without the help from the residents dragging their garden hoses and buckets filled with water to the fire, the losses from the fire could have been far greater,” he said.
Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.
