Farmer stands ready to defend own home against bushfire
Excerpt from the latest news update on the terrible Victoria bushfires:
Meanwhile, the residents of Highlands, a small community about 10km north of Yea, have been told they are on their own if the Victorian bushfires swing their way.
A local business owner said residents were told at a meeting on Wednesday that the seven tankers that would protect their properties had broken down and were in Yea awaiting repairs.
Dan Elisha, the owner of bed and breakfast business Arora Castle Cottages, built his brick home and three cottages as fireproof as he could and surrounded them with a two-metre-wide concrete path.
He also has six water tanks containing 130,000 litres and is ready to take on a blaze on his own.
“I didn’t build this business to leave it in the event of a fire,” Mr Elisha told AAP.
“We’ve just had a meeting in the Highlands Hall with about 100 locals and we were told what roads would be closed in the event of a fire and told the seven tankers which were to defend the area had all broken down.
“If the fire comes, and we hope it doesn’t, we will have to defend our properties ourselves.”
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/cfa-warns-yeamurrindindi-residents-20090211-84fe.html
True Australian hero or obstinate bloke? Is his livelihood worth his life?
