Tragedy in Werribee: Firefighters Union Cites Under-Resourcing in Fatal Blaze
A devastating house fire in Melbourne’s south-west has claimed the life of a three-year-old boy and left his father in a critical condition, prompting a stern warning from the Victorian firefighters union about chronic under-resourcing. The blaze, which ripped through a home in Werribee around midnight, tragically trapped young Jordan Dashwood, who could not be saved. His father, Jeremy, 39, suffered severe burns and remains in an induced coma after escaping the inferno by leaping from a window.
The incident has ignited a fierce debate about the adequacy of firefighting resources in the rapidly expanding City of Wyndham, a region encompassing fast-growing suburbs like Werribee, Tarneit, Truganina, Hoppers Crossing, and Point Cook.
Delayed Response Raises Serious Concerns
According to the United Firefighters Union Victoria (UFU), Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews reached the scene nine minutes after the fire was reported, with Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) units arriving several minutes later. Veteran firefighter and UFU member David Abbey believes this response time was too long and directly contributed to the tragic outcome.
Abbey stated that the situation was “a situation that could have been avoided had the state government and management of FRV invested adequately in the service, delivery and resources in the City of Wyndham.” He painted a grim picture of the region’s firefighting capabilities, describing them as “so under-resourced, it’s actually very scary.”
The UFU highlighted a critical issue: the nearest fire station to the Dashwood family’s home reportedly had only one truck available, and that truck was already attending another incident. This left the area vulnerable and potentially delayed vital assistance.
“Russian Roulette” with Public Safety
Abbey did not mince words, accusing the state government and FRV of “playing Russian roulette with the safety of the residents of Wyndham.” He asserted that firefighters have consistently lobbied for increased resources, including more appliances and vehicles, but their pleas have gone unheeded.
“Minutes can mean the difference between life and death,” Abbey emphasised. “Time is our enemy. We need appliances here. We can’t wait for 10, 12 or 13 minutes.” He suggested that had a second truck been available, firefighters could have arrived at the scene within a crucial 5 to 6 minutes, potentially altering the course of events.
A Predictable Tragedy, Say Firefighters
The UFU views Jordan’s death as a tragically inevitable consequence of the persistent lack of resources in the area. “For us as career firefighters to see the end result of that fire, it’s absolutely devastating and heartbreaking, because we know we can do more,” Abbey added, expressing the profound distress felt by those on the front lines.
He believes that Wyndham residents would be shocked to learn about the limited resources available to protect them during emergencies. The union is now urgently calling on the state government and FRV to rectify the situation by providing the Wyndham area with additional fire appliances and trucks.
The Scene of the Fire
The devastating blaze required the attendance of more than 10 fire trucks and 40 firefighters, who worked for approximately an hour to control and extinguish the fire. Following the extinguishment, a search of the home was conducted.
Police are currently investigating the incident, with an arson chemist expected to attend the scene. However, at this preliminary stage, the fire is not being treated as suspicious.
The family’s 11-year-old older brother and their 40-year-old mother also managed to escape the fire unharmed. Tragically, the family’s two dogs perished in the inferno.
FRV Responds
A spokesperson for Fire Rescue Victoria stated that the closest available resource was dispatched to the fire, explaining why CFA crews were the first on the scene. “FRV resources arrived on scene as soon as they became available,” the spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the child who tragically died.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has been contacted for comment regarding the incident and the union’s concerns.
