Fire Fighters MemorialPrint Page 
The monument commemorates five volunteer Geelong West firefighters who were killed in the December 1998 bushfire. It is erected at the site of the tragedy.
On 2 December 1998, a bushfire burned through private land and state forest near the township of Linton and fire fighters from the Department of Natural Resources and Country Fire Authority (CFA) were deployed to fight the fire.
At approximately 8:45 p.m., two CFA tankers and their crews were trapped and engulfed in fire following an unexpected wind change. The crew of one of those trucks, five men from Geelong, all volunteers from the Geelong West Brigade were killed. The coronial inquest examining the fire and the deaths was one of the longest-running inquests in the history of the state. This inquest led to changes in safety operating procedures in the CFA.
Location
| Address: | Kelly Road, State Forest, Linton, 3360 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.656944 Long: 143.566944 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Fire |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 02-December-1998 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 02-December-1998 |
| Link: | http://monumentaustralia.org.au/dis… |
Dedication
Garry Vredeveldt
10. 7. 1951 - 2. 12. 1998
Christopher Evans
1. 11. 1971 - 2. 12. 1998
Jason Thomas
2. 10. 1973 - 2. 12. 1998
Stuart Davidson
10. 11. 1970 - 2. 12. 1998
Matthew Armstrong
13. 10. 1981 - 2. 12. 1998
This Path Leads To The Memorial
Erected By The People Of Linton And
Snake Valley To Honour The Five Geelong
West Firefighters Who Died After Being
Trapped By Fire On 2 December, 1998
The Eight Pointed Star Represents The
Qualities Required By A Firefighter :
Tact, Loyalty, Dexterity, Observation,
Sympathy, Explicitness, Gallantry
And Perseverance.
