Star honour salutes courage in fire

Shaun McHenry’s injuries are a constant reminder of the day he would rather forget — a day that everything changed.

Trapped in a ferocious burnover at Black Cat Creek in 2012, the Denmark parks and wildlife firefighter was faced with the choice of fleeing his fire truck or dying as the fire intensified.

Today, the 41-year-old will be announced as one of only three people in Australia to receive the Star of Courage, Australia’s second-highest civilian bravery award, for saving the lives of colleagues Charlene Dekker and Tim Wellstead during the catastrophic bushfire.

The blaze claimed the life of parks and wildlife firefighter and mother-of-three Wendy Bearfoot and was the subject of a coronial inquest.

The inquest found a combination of a lack of resources, a lack of training and a “critical failure” in communicating a forecast wind change led to her death and burns injuries to a number of firefighters.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the inquest, Mr McHenry said the physical and mental challenges from the ordeal seven years ago continued to confront him daily.

“Going through something like that changes everything. Every aspect of your life” he said.

“Actually not only my life, but that of my family. They have all been through this with me. I am so grateful to my wife and children that have been my strength and support.”

Mr McHenry and Ms Dekker had been on the ground for less than five minutes when the burnover engulfed their truck and burnt the bags containing their personal protection equipment.

They lowered themselves into the truck’s footwells for protection before realising they needed to leave the vehicle as plastics started to melt and windows shattered.

“I knew we were going to die if we stayed in there,” Mr McHenry told the inquest in 2016.

“I knew it wasn’t a very good survival tactic to get out of the truck ... but I knew we had to make an effort.”

Mr McHenry and Ms Dekker ran to Mrs Bearfoot’s truck where they found Tim Wellstead, but the truck was inoperable.

Mr McHenry suffered severe burns to his hands, elbows and knees when his clothes caught fire as the trio sought refuge from the flames, huddled under one fire blanket.

They walked about 100m until fellow firefighters Peno Hau and Greg Freebury found them and took them to safety.

Ms Dekker was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with multiple burns. She later credited Mr McHenry with saving her life.

Receiving news his bravery would be recognised along with the conduct of three of his colleagues — Peno Hau, Matthew Corlett and Jason Fletcher — Mr McHenry said he was humbled by the honour.

“I am humbled and I feel it is something anyone would do given the situation,” Mr McHenry said.

“It was such an extreme position that we were in. Charlene is an amazing, strong, brave woman.

“I was surprised and a bit unsure of how it sits with me as it was a horrible time for so many and their families, but to be recognised along with my colleges is an honour.”

Governor-General Peter Cosgrove said the awards recognised Australians, who without thought of personal risk, displayed courage and bravery to protect or defend others.

“These awards have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by identifying role models,” Mr Cosgrove said.

“Today, we add a new group of people to those whose lead all Australians should follow.”