• Hume Star
• Wallan, Kilmore, Broadford Star
• Whittlesea, Mernda, Doreen Star

By Michael Esposito

9th March 2010 11:05:35 AM

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WELL-prepared fire plans were not enough to save several victims of the Black Saturday fires, the royal commission heard last week.

As investigators re-enacted the harrowing deaths of those first hit by the Kilmore East blaze, commissioners heard that the unexpected intensity of the fire and little warning of its proximity rendered several fire plans ineffective.

Upper Plenty’s Stephen Lackas was the first person to die.

The commission heard that his fire plan was to shelter in his big steel shed if he got trapped in a fire. A bus was idling in the shed, but Mr Lackas never made it. He died in his house.

Arson chemist John Kelleher said evidence indicated he was about to leave, but got caught in the fire.

His wife Sandra and son Bailey left the property about 2pm and survived. Ms Lackas wanted her husband to leave but he objected.

David Stokes, of Upper Plenty, also died despite building and extending firebreaks around his property the day before.

Mr Stokes was found dead in his cool store. His family survived by staying in the house until the fire front passed, and then sheltering in the pool.

Mr Kelleher said Mr Stokes might have gone to the cool room to try to fix the drop-in water pressure.

Mr Stokes’s wife Jenice, after seeing smoke in the Kilmore direction, tuned into ABC radio and checked the CFA website about 11am. The radio had no mention of a fire and the website mentioned a small grass fire at Kilmore East with one or two trucks at the scene.

It wasn’t until a phone call from a friend about 2pm that Jenice was told her house was in the direct path of a fast-moving fire.

The commission heard that belated warnings also contributed to Kinglake West resident, Darrin Gibson, losing his wife and three children.

He first heard a radio report about a fire at Kinglake West about 4pm. Not much more than an hour later the fire was 50 metres from his house. He tried to run to his car and drive his family to safety, but the fire was too close and he retreated to the house.

But the family had to flee the house. Mr Gibson’s wife Lesley and children Kiona, Jye and Ava died while trying to get to their dam.

Mr Gibson was taken to The Alfred hospital where he was in a coma for four weeks.

In statements to investigators, Mr Gibson criticised the poor communication by fire authorities and the media to residents in the path of the fire.

“I had no knowledge of the fire being so close to us until the report came over that there was a fire in Kinglake West,” he said.

“Even a warning a few minutes prior would have made a big difference in that my family would have escaped.”

Jason Lynn, who lives on the same road as Mr Gibson, said there was no indication on the internet about a fire at Mount Disappointment, and ABC radio did not provide up-to-date information.

The commission heard that Humevale’s Allan O’Gorman, wife Carolyn and son Stuart died in their house. Mr Kelleher said the O’Gormans were “clearly unaware” of how close the fire was.

“Evidence suggests there was no specific warning call made to the house.”

The commission investigated 37 deaths last week, including 21 on Pine Ridge Rd, Kinglake West.

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