Mr. B received a call from his neighbour on Hulme Creek
Road that the Rock Creek fire was coming up the hill and threatening his home.
Mr. B went to assist with his pick-up and loaded water
tank.
After battling for a while, very efficient fire bombers
flew in and took over.
No longer having electricity for water pumps on the road,
Mr. B decided to go down to the highway and travel west one kilometer and re-fill
his tank at a neighbour’s. On the way he offered refreshment to the
firefighters on the highway.
Upon returning to Hulme Creek Road he was blocked and informed
by the Environment Police (officially known as Conservation Officers) that he
was not permitted on Hulme Creek Road; it was an evacuation area.
Mr. B explained that he was fighting the fire, that his
home was in danger and he had just gone to get more water.
The Environment Police would hear none of it and remained
adamant that he would not be getting onto Hulme Creek Road.
Another neighbour, whose house was in far more serious
danger, also tried to enter onto Hulme Creek Road at the same time, but was met
with the same obstinance.
The situation appeared to be heading into a state of mass
inflammation and ugliness as protocol was trying to prevail over people, and
regulation was trying to rule over the rights of people to save their homes. To
the common man it seemed insanity.
The two blocked men, however, handled it in typical Rock
Creek fashion. They left the two over-paid zealots stewing with their inflexible
rules and proceeded west to Conkle Lake Road and travelled up to around the 13-km
marker. From there they travelled on a narrow, seldom used trail that threaded
its way over to Hulme Creek the back way.
Back on their home turf, they fought the fire for two
days with many others and saved much.
Rock Creek residents have a history of not wanting
government regulation in their lives, particularly when the rules are
cumbersome and idiotic.
Sometimes they think it is better to turn their backs on
the government and just “shoot, shovel and shut-up”.
Liberty and common sense still live there.
Some call the ones that fought behind the evacuation
lines “rebels”.
Others might call the armed gunman authorities that tried
to prevent people from saving their own homes the real criminals, even if they
are “legal” ones.