If ever a person was worthy of receiving an Australian Fire Service Medal, it’s Shaun Lawlor.
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Shaun has attended every major fire in Victoria in the past 35 years, either as air attack supervisor or in his role as an operations officer.
Those include:
- The 1998 Caledonia fire.
- The 2002-03 Alpine fires.
- The 2006-07 Great Divide fires.
- The 2009 Black Saturday fires.
- The 2013 Harrietville fire.
- The 2019-20 Black Summer fire.
When Shaun began working with the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands in 1989 as a seasonal firefighter, little did he know what a crucial role he’d play in some of Victoria’s most devastating bushfires.
Fresh from graduating from the University of Melbourne with a forest science degree, he was fortunate enough to get his first firefighting job with the Heyfield mobile support crew, one of five such crews across the state.
It’s understood that the crews were established in Victoria to mirror the American “hotshot” crews, which were employed seasonally to provide additional firefighting capacity during the summer months.
“We lived in a forestry camp at Surveyors Creek near the Howitt High Plains and were ready to be deployed to fires anywhere in the state on just 15 minutes' notice,” Shaun said.
“As the name suggests, we were extremely mobile, self-sufficient with our own firefighting equipment, camping gear, food and vehicles.”
“We were prepared to respond to fires at any time, anywhere. Even when we did day-to-day work such as hand slashing road verges and building post and rail fences at recreation sites, the camp trailer came with us.”
“If we got the call, we’d just get in the four-wheel drive and get going, no delays.”
Shaun says after a long week on the tools, the crew always looked forward to the trip into Heyfield each Friday afternoon, about a two-hour drive, to stock up on supplies and have a cold drink at the pub.
“It was a highlight for us all, but we made sure we were back at camp by 10am the next day, ready to respond to fires,” he said.
Reflecting on his 36-year firefighting career, Shaun said the past three decades had been a significant period for eastern Victoria, with six major campaign fires.
“We have witnessed a very high frequency of large-scale, high-intensity bushfires across much of the landscape,” he said.
“When you look back at the cycle of fires over the past 100 to 150 years, it’s probably been the busiest and most significant period of fire that agencies and communities have had to contend with.”
Shaun said, in addition to the large campaign fires, the hundreds of small fires that are rapidly responded to and put out without any fanfare are just as important.
“Everyone understands the devastation and destruction that the big fires bring to communities and the environment, that’s why we make every effort to detect and respond to new fires in a way that allows us to keep them as small as possible,” he said.
It’s an approach that has seen him successfully lead the development and implementation of the Forest Fire Management Victoria’s model of response, which has been adopted across the state to assist with the timely deployment of resources to bushfires based on risk.
This initiative has also resulted in a number of innovations such as mobile and fixed water points in remote forest areas to improve helicopter firebombing efficiency.
Shaun’s significant operational experience has also seen him deployed both interstate and internationally, including Canada and the United States.
“The US deployment was an incredible experience,” Shaun said.
“The firefighting aspects were familiar, but the environment we were working in wasn’t.
“I was terrified of the bears, moose, wolverines, cougars, wolves and prisoners, but somehow made it home in one piece.”
With 28 years of experience as an air attack supervisor, Shaun is one of the most seasoned operators in the state and has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects that uncontrolled bushfires can cause.
“Air attack supervisors are responsible for the safe, efficient and effective use of firebombing aircraft,” he said
"In addition to developing strategies and tasking the firebombing operations, we also gather and provide critical intelligence about the fire to the incident management team.
"It's a privileged position to hold because you can see so much from the air. You can observe what’s happening on the ground in real time, as well as anticipate what might happen next.
“You are one of the only people who can see the whole picture, where the people are, and how that combination could come together in a good or bad way depending on the spread of the fire and the success of suppression efforts.”
This situation unfolded in real-time on Black Saturday when Shaun was deployed as the air attack supervisor to the Murrindindi fire just after 3pm on Saturday, February 7, 2009.
The Murrindindi fire tragically resulted in the deaths of 40 people and the destruction of 538 houses, primarily in and around Marysville, Narbethong and Buxton.
"I have very vivid memories of Black Saturday. To this day, I have never seen anything like it before or since," he said.
“The power and momentum of the fire was unbelievable. One of the fixed-wing bombers I was working with disappeared into the smoke on his descent to the target.
“I thought after what seemed like an eternity that he’d crashed, and I’d lost him. Just as I was preparing to make a mayday call, he emerged from the smoke, a long way from where I thought he would be.”
“I later found out his emergency locator beacon had been activated during the drop.
“The forces required to do that are equivalent to crashing into a mountain, so it was a very extreme and dangerous situation for everyone.
“The fact that firefighters in the air and on the ground were prepared to fight a fire like that in the most extreme circumstances possible is a testament to their bravery and commitment.
“They just make you so immensely proud. It’s a privilege to work with people like that.”
Reflecting on receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal on the King’s Birthday Honours List, Shaun said he was proud of his achievements but also humbled by the recognition.
“Firefighting is incredibly satisfying, especially when we achieve positive outcomes for both the community and natural environment” he said.
“I have been fortunate during my career to have worked with some wonderful mentors.”
“Some of the most competent and capable people who to this day I’m proud to call my friends.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have received during my career to date and the people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside.”
Article courtesy of DEECA.
Benalla Ensign