Frantic final moments of South Coast resident fighting bushfire beast

When it comes to defending a home from bushfire, Laurence Andrew was as ready as one might expect to be. A recent retiree who for 20 years had lived in the house he had built at Yatte Yattah, near Milton on the South Coast, he knew the property and its surrounds like the back of his hand.

In the weeks and days and prior to the fire’s arrival on the eve of 2020, he had cleared the land, installed sprinklers, and had generators and pumps ready. But what Mr Andrew, 70, hadn’t counted on, was the impact that fighting the ferocious Currowan fire would have on his heart.

Wreck Bay fire crew protect a property from the Currowan fire. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

The NSW Coroner’s Court this week is examining the origins and cause of the enormous and deadly Currowan fire and associated fires, which decimated swathes of the South Coast over the summer of 2019/2020. It is also looking to determine the cause and manner of the deaths of three residents â€" Mr Andrew, John Butler and Michael Campbell.

In her opening statements on Monday, counsel assisting the inquest, Donna Ward, described the Currowan fire as “a beast”. At its most dangerous, she said, the fire “would roar and belch and consume everything in its path”. At other times, “it would doze”.

Many locals “sized up this fire and believed with good preparation they would have its measure”, Ms Ward said; but she added evidence suggests preparations that may have helped people fight other bushfires “was insufficient in the face of the Currowan fire”.

A National Parks and Wildlife Service vehicle destroyed by the Currowan fire. Credit:Wolter Peeters

The fire is believed to have ignited on November 25 as a result of a lightning strike in the Currowan State Forest, in a remote gully dominated by stringybark gums. It didn’t become visible until the following afternoon, when residents began to report seeing large plumes of smoke north of the Kings Highway â€" the main thoroughfare between the South Coast and Canberra.

A helicopter called in to assist following these reports made one water drop before it was determined that the high wind and turbulence made conditions too unsafe to continue. The same conditions would also make it too unsafe for ground crews, Ms Ward said.

In the weeks that followed, a range of factors would influence the fire’s progression â€" including terrain, weather, time, and human intervention, Ms Ward said.

Backburns and other containment strategies “might have influenced its course, although not always as hoped or intended”, Ms Ward said â€" but she noted the scope of the inquiry is limited to the cause and origins of the fire. Future hearings will examine decisions made in the course of fighting it.

From mid-December, the fire burnt in a “generally east” direction towards Batemans Bay before taking off on a rapid downslope run in the early hours of December 31. As it spread into new local government areas it was given new names â€" Clyde Mountain fire, Charleys Forest fire.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Mr Andrew â€" known to friends as Laurie â€" drove to Milton to pick up additional sprinkler fittings. Back home, when the fire was within about a kilometre, he spoke to his son David, who wanted him to leave. He was adamant he was staying to fight.

About 11am, Mr Andrew called his neighbour. They talked about getting hit by winds in different directions, thinking the fire was creating its own weather. “This is going to hit us, Laurie,” his neighbour said. About half an hour later, it did.

With help from friend Tony Reiman, Mr Andrew would spend the following hours racing around putting out spotfires.

About 4pm, as Mr Reiman returned to the laundry to gather more water, he found Mr Andrew lying on the floor. He would undertake frantic efforts to save his friend as fire burnt around them, eventually making his way on foot to flag down a fire crew on a nearby road.

By the time the crew got to Mr Andrew he was dead.

Ms Ward told the inquest an autopsy found Mr Andrew had a chronic heart condition, and died “after some hours of strenuous physical activity and high stress trying to save his home”.

The inquest also heard about the last-known movements of Mr Butler and Mr Campbell who were found dead in their vehicles when neighbours returned to look for them.

Mr Butler’s burnt-out ute was found crashed into a tree, while Mr Campbell was found inside his car with the steering wheel still locked.

Ms Ward said it is possible Mr Butler, who planned to defend his home, “belatedly decided to leave ... and in the smoke and confusion ran into the tree and was overtaken by the fire”.

It could not be known for certain whether Mr Campbell was trying to escape when he died, of if he was attempting to shelter in his car, she said.

The inquest will resume on Tuesday.

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