Volunteer firefighter to sue CFA for trauma after Black Saturday fires

A volunteer Victorian firefighter is suing the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for damages after he was trapped by a deadly blaze on Black Saturday.

The action is the first personal injury claim to be brought by a Black Saturday volunteer against the CFA.

Glenn Barlow and his brigade received no warning about the impending firestorm, which engulfed Coombs Road in Kinglake West while their radio systems failed.

Several of the crew suffered flash burns and other injuries.

In a CFA case study report of the incident, crew said conditions in the area were dangerous.

"The flame height of the fire coming towards us was at least twice the height of the trees, at least 80 metres," one crew member said.

Another firefighter, Karen Barrow, who was second lieutenant at the Kinglake West brigade on the day, told the 2009 bushfires royal commission that communication problems had hampered firefighting efforts.

"There was no information whatsoever. We only knew what we could ascertain from the CFA website and ABC radio," she said.

Peter Marshall from the United Firefighters Union said Mr Barlow had suffered significant post-traumatic stress over the incident.

He said many more firefighters who have suffered as a result of Black Saturday could take action.

"It's an ever increasing scenario of post-traumatic stress in the fire service," Mr Marshall said.

"I know personally firefighters who suffered badly as a result of what they've seen on Black Saturday.

"It sends a very bad message if a volunteer firefighter, or indeed a career firefighter, has to go to court to be compensated because of illness they suffered in looking after the community."

The CFA said it could not make any comment due to the current court action.