Imagine dedicating your life to saving others, only to learn that while you're battling raging flames to protect their homes, your own is being consumed by fire. This is the heartbreaking reality volunteer firefighter Michael Harper faced during Victoria's catastrophic bushfires.
For over 24 hours, Michael had been on the front lines, a driver for a Country Fire Authority (CFA) strike team – essentially a rapid response unit composed of firefighters from different regional areas. These brave men and women were tirelessly defending homes across central Victoria. Deployed last Thursday, Michael was instrumental in combating the blazes.
But here's where it gets controversial... While some argue that firefighters should prioritize saving lives above all else, the emotional toll of losing everything while protecting others is immense. Is the current system adequately supporting these volunteers, or are we asking too much of them?
It was amidst battling a particularly fierce fire along the Maroondah Highway that Michael received the devastating news over the radio. He was ordered to lead his team back to his hometown of Alexandra to defend it from the approaching Longwood fire. Among his four-person team were a young 20-year-old volunteer and even Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Damien Gallagher. They first checked on Cr Gallagher's house, fearing it was in danger.
"Once we got up there, we found that Damien's house hadn't burnt down – which was a huge relief – but over the radio we heard that they were pulling trucks out of [my property address] because of the danger of gas bottles, and they said that they lost all assets there," Michael recounted. "I realised at that stage it was actually my house."
Mayor Gallagher described the moment Michael arrived at his street, "His response was deflation at first, obviously, as you would, then after a while he just started providing water to all the extra crew who had also arrived to the street. He's an incredible guy," he said. "He said, 'That's okay, I can't change it.'"
Michael's reaction speaks volumes about his character. Instead of succumbing to despair, he immediately started helping other firefighters. "I suppose it's about choice, isn't it? You can go down that rabbit hole of feeling sorry for yourself, but there's stuff we need to do," Michael explained.
Gallagher, recognizing the immense emotional strain, told Michael his day was over and took him back to the station. The pair had already endured an exhausting 24 hours, battling fires from Ruffy to Terip Terip and then along the Maroondah Highway, where the blaze was, in Gallagher's words, "as intense as fire gets." Michael described the Maroondah fire as "putting a bandaid over a brain injury, really," highlighting the sheer scale and intensity of the challenge.
And this is the part most people miss... Even after such a devastating personal loss, Michael's commitment to his community shone through. Despite Gallagher's insistence that he rest, Michael returned, saying, "Mate, let's go again." Their next task: defending a farm under imminent threat in Acheron.
"That's just the kind of guy he is," Gallagher emphasized.
Michael's initial departure from home had been sudden. "The call came through that they needed a strike team driver for a deployment straight away, so I literally went home, threw on my fire clothes and went out the door and that's all I had with me," he said, illustrating the urgency and selflessness of volunteer firefighters.
Both Michael and his wife Cathie, also a volunteer firefighter with the Acheron CFA, were well aware of the risks. "We always discussed that we're in a fire-prone area and we wouldn't be there to defend our house because we knew we'd be on the trucks," he stated matter-of-factly.
Their philosophy? "We just have to play on," Michael said. "It is what it is, and we understand that when we're in the fire brigade. It's the first few days of the next journey in our life and we're just going to look at it that way," he added, demonstrating remarkable resilience. "That's what we were meant to do."
Despite the tragedy, Michael expressed immense pride in the work he and his team accomplished. "We run on adrenaline and you just keep going and, you do, you feel the immense pride in what you're achieving," he said.
Gallagher lauded Michael's exceptional driving skills under incredibly hazardous conditions. "He was driving on fire, and there was zero visibility … you've just got to point at the heat of the fire with the water," Gallagher described. "Michael was navigating that, keeping us out of ditches and away from fences, until we could sight the fire line and extinguish it. Where we went, vehicles shouldn't have to go. What he was able to do was just incredible."
While convoying back and forth between Yarck and Merton, Michael's team was directly responsible for saving homes and lives. "Michael was a big part of that," Gallagher affirmed.
Tragically, Michael wasn't alone in his loss. "Michael's story is so similar. There's been quite a few, and they're all still fighting fires and getting on with it," Gallagher revealed, highlighting the widespread impact of these fires on volunteer firefighters.
"It's been inexplicable, but I throw my hat off to each and every one of the volunteers who puts themselves out there not knowing the fate of their home," Gallagher concluded.
Michael Harper's story is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and selflessness of volunteer firefighters. But it also raises important questions about the support and resources available to these heroes. Are we doing enough to protect those who protect us? Should there be a better system in place to ensure firefighters' homes are defended when they are out defending others? What are your thoughts? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments below.
