Ellenbrook Volunteer Firefighter Recounts Home Defense During Bushfire
Matt Beilken, an Ellenbrook father and volunteer firefighter, recounted sheltering inside his home during a bushfire emergency on Thursday.
Mr. Beilken evacuated his two young children to a neighbor's house before flames reached his property. He then ceased firefighting efforts to shelter indoors. He reported that the fire initially moved in a northerly direction, then a wind change caused it to advance directly towards his house.
Flames approached his garage, prompting him to seek shelter.
Upon recognizing the fire's trajectory, Mr. Beilken transported his children and dog to a neighbor for care. He then engaged in defensive actions, using a hose to water down the carport edges, aiming to protect his home, which is less than 10 meters from bushland.
Mr. Beilken stated that this was his first experience defending his own home from a fire, having recently returned from battling the Boddington bushfire.