150 wedding guests evacuated from Gazette property during fire

Gazette homestead’s Elle Moyle said her family property was hosting a wedding when the fire began.

“There was about 150 people at the wedding and at about 9.30pm we started to smell smoke,” she said.

“About 10 minutes later the whole sky was red. We started getting quite concerned.

“We were in contact with the local trucks and they were telling us how serious it was.

“We got everyone inside because the buses weren’t here to collect people. We had no power as well and hardly any phone service.

“Luckily the bus drivers finally turned up and we were able to evacuate everyone safely, and we stayed and fought the fires.”

She said the flames came within 100 metres of the wedding celebrations. 

Ms Moyle’s brother’s home near the main homestead was destroyed in the blaze, as well as two hay sheds.

“We were fighting to keep the homestead,” she said.

“All of the pine trees were alight and the whole horse paddock was on fire.

“I got them (the horses) out and all the halters were melted. We were lucky to get them out. No-one has had any sleep.”

She said embers from the fire were flying “up to one-and-a-half kilometres”.

“That’s how the next fire started, she said.

“We had chain saws cutting down trees and everyone out there – all the fire trucks, all the neighbours came over –  it was a really good effort.” 

She said the main losses on the property was the house, the sheds and the fences.

“There’s a lot of pasture gone as well,” she said.

“We are lucky that there doesn’t seem to be too many livestock losses.”

Two cars were also destroyed. They were parked next to her brother’s house. 

The bride and groom declined to speak to the media, as they cleaned up after the wedding on Sunday afternoon. 

The story, Wedding guests flee from Gazette property, first appeared on The Standard website.