When the Smoke Clears

Voices from the Heart of Black Saturday

Rick Wall, Cameron Caine

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Paperback

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English

Hembury Books
11 August 2025

Biography: general; Australasian & Pacific history; Natural disasters

Every so often, Cameron would stop the patrol car and wind down the window.

There was absolute silence except for the ringing in his ears.

It was like the end of the world.

As millions of Victorians were getting ready for bed on 7 February 2009, thankful their state had survived the hottest day on record, they had little knowledge of what was unfolding just an hour's drive north of Melbourne on the Great Dividing Range.

In Kinglake, no dogs barked. There were no sounds of traffic. No insects, no birds. No children. Everything was gone. The houses, the sheds, the people. There was only before, and after, Black Saturday.

The fires had moved with such speed and ferocity, destroying critical infrastructure and advancing faster than people could run or drive, that emergency services couldn't keep up - or reach all the threatened areas in time. The community of Kinglake was on its own.

As gale-force winds and record temperatures arrived like a freight train, unleashing a firestorm that claimed 173 lives and erased the town in minutes, Senior Constable Cameron Caine was one of only two local police officers on duty.

Amidst the ash and silence, his wife Laura was with tradie Ross Buchanan when he learned that two of his children, Neeve and Mackenzie, were in a house where five people had perished. It was supposed to be the safest house in one of the safest streets.

When the Smoke Clears captures the enduring strength of the Kinglake community before, during and after the devastation of Black Saturday. With deep empathy and respect, Rick Wall honours the courage and vulnerability of the Caine and Buchanan families in the face of unimaginable loss.

With unprecedented weather occurrences becoming ever more common, When the Smoke Clears reminds us of the long-lasting impact of these ferocious events, asks how we might respond to both disaster and recovery - and stand with survivors as they walk out of the fireball.

By: Rick Wall, Cameron Caine
Imprint: Hembury Books
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 16mm
Weight: 386g
ISBN: 9781764055284
ISBN 10: 1764055284
Pages: 286
Publication Date: 11 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Journalist Rick Wall spent three decades in the media industry, most notably with Melbourne radio stations and as a researcher for ABC TV current affairs in Sydney. When Black Saturday unfolded in 2009, Rick was semi-retired. Then, AFL Victoria decided to send someone to Kinglake to help rebuild the township's football and netball club. Rick was that person. He grew close to many of the locals who offered unique insights into the tragedy and the recovery. Rick donated his services to write the stories of the Caine and Buchanan families during the disaster and its painstaking aftermath.Cameron Caine OAM grew up in northeast Melbourne. After a 15-year career as a plumber, in 1999 he joined Victoria Police and served in various stations, including Reservoir and Seymour, before transferring to Kinglake, where he was one of only two local police officers on duty on Black Saturday. He retired in 2019 due to PTSD.Throughout his career, he was honoured with several awards, including the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), the Victoria Police Valour Award, the Royal Humane Society of Australasia Silver Medal for Bravery, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the National Medal for Service. He is still involved with the Kinglake Football Netball Club and continues to contribute to his community through creative projects.