Firefighters Watching And Waiting
The Age
Thursday January 30, 2003
Victorian firefighters face a war of nerves today as they wait for a wind change that could whip up the fire front burning across the state's north-east.
The weather bureau is again predicting warm temperatures for the alpine area, with strong to gale-force north-west winds overnight shifting to west to south-westerly during the day.
Temperatures for Gippsland are forecast to be in the mid to high 30s, with an expected 39 in Orbost and 37 in Bairnsdale.
The East Gippsland town of Omeo had another dose of luck yesterday with the fires coming within a kilometre for the second time in four days before being held back.
Spot fires also broke out in East Gippsland around the Cobungra View and Mountain Maid estates west of Omeo.
The Country Fire Authority contained the fires and kept up patrols of the area, which was disastrously hit by the Bogong fire last Sunday. Extra firefighting crews were also moved to Swifts Creek and Ensay, south of Omeo.
In Omeo, 75 firefighters and 15 trucks were sent into the town yesterday, the CFA said. Thick smoke billowed through the town and naked flames were seen briefly through the smoke as the blaze swept over Mount Mesley about 4pm.
The blaze crested Mount Mesley to the north-west and hot embers dropped several kilometres to the east of the fire front, causing a major spot fire on the edge of town. Firefighters slowed the fire by bombing it with flame retardant and brought it under control.
Department of Sustainability and Environment incident controller Ben Rankin said the fire's behaviour had been better than expected yesterday.
A major fire on Mount Sam, to the north of Omeo, also threw spotfires kilometres ahead of the fire front.
The CFA said the fire front, which extends across the alps into New South Wales, is now 120 kilometres long and its perimeter measures about 600 kilometres.
Yesterday the CFA and the Department of Sustainability and Environment asked the communities of Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta, Nariel Valley and Eskdale to implement their bushfire survival plans.
Like so many in the region, Joyce and Morris Klippel were watching and waiting yesterday at their picturesque Hillsview homestead in Berringama, 30 kilometres west of Corryong.
``The elements control everything," Mr Klippel, 81, said. ``We don't have much hope when (the fire) gets into the top of the trees."
He witnessed the 1939 fires and those of Ash Wednesday in 1983, but says neither of those compare with the current blazes, which have so far razed more than 350,000 hectares across the state.
Meanwhile, a grassfire at Crib Point, south-east of Melbourne near HMAS Cerberus naval base, forced the evacuation of the Crib Point child-care centre.
The three-hectare fire broke out about 2.30pm in scrub near the top of the naval base and threatened the married quarters, but was brought under control by early evening.
A new water-dumping sky crane helicopter, which arrived from the United States only on Tuesday, had its first call to action to help with the blaze. The CFA sent two teams and five tankers and navy firefighters were also used.
FIGHTING VICTORIA'S FIRES
Country Fire Authority crews on duty in the north-east. One vehicle each, unless indicated.
Region 2 Bendigo
Baringhup West, Murphy's Creek, Bendigo (2), Sutton Grange, Walmer, Marong, Eaglehawk, Mandurang, Mosquito Creek, Sedgwick, Carapooee, Mysia, Slaty Creek, Bridgewater, Raywood, Elphinstone and Castlemaine.
Region 4/5, Hamilton-Casterton
No vehicles, 100 people.
Region 6/7 Colac-Geelong
Wellington (3), Lara, Torquay, Freshwater Creek, Anglesea, Belmont, Birregurra, Brucknell, Ayrford, Corio, Jancourt, Barwon Heads, Drysdale, Leopold (2), Ocean Grove, Queenscliff.
Region 8, Dandenong
Chelsea (2), Hampton Park, Carrum, Carrum Downs, Cranbourne (2), Keysborough, Maryknoll, Mount Eliza, Rosebud, Bairnsdale, Mornington (2), Balnarring, Hastings, Frankston, Moorooduc, Bunyip, Berwick, Cockatoo, Clyde, Upper Beaconsfield.
Region 9: Warragul
Longwarry, Yallourn North, Drouin West, Moe South, Noojee, Tanjil, Westbury, Newborough, Leongatha, Loch, Inverloch.
Region 10: Sale
Yarram, Alberton West, Binginwarri, Carrajung, Devon North, Woodside.
Region 12, Seymour
Buxton, Clonbinane, Glenburn, Pyalong, Whanregarwen, Yea.
Region 13: Lilydale
Warrandyte, Hurstbridge, North Warrandyte, St Andrews, Wattleglen (2), Eltham, Dixons Creek, Gruyere, Selby, Yarra Junction, Ferntree Gully, Belgrave, South Warrandyte, Toolangi, Wandin, Warburton, Mount Evelyn, Clyde, Upper Beaconsfield, Healesville, Olinda, Research, Silvan, The Basin.
Region 14: Melton
Mount Macedon, Whittlesea, Epping, Coimadai, Riddells Creek, Diamond Creek, Diggers Rest, Romsey, Caroline Springs, Craigieburn, Macedon, Plenty, Point Cook, Hillside, Greenvale.
Region 15, Ballarat
Morrisey, Ballarat (2), Clunes, Daylesford, Elaine, Smythesdale, Blackwood, Wallan, Coimadai.
Region 16: 5 trucks, 25 people.Bornes Hill, Stawell, Moyston, Avoca, Snake Valley.
Region 18: Swan Hill, No vehicles, 100 people.
Region 20: Kerang No vehicles, 175 people.
Region 22: Shepparton
Sheans Creek, Violet Town, St James, Katamatite, Tungamah, Arcadia, Murchison, Nagambie, Shepparton, Colbinabbin, Creightons Creek, Dookie, Mooroopna, Longwood (3), Balmattum, Ruffy, Katunga, Wunghnu, Numurkah (2), Tatura (2), Merrigum (3), Stanhope, Toolamba, Kialla, Shepparton East, Tallygaroopna, Girgarre, Deakin North West, Kyabram.
Region 23: Wangaratta
Thoona, Bobinawarrah, Killawarra, Lurg, Taminick, Bonnie Doon, Warrenbayne, Baddaginnie, Greta, Booroolite.
Region 24: Wodonga. Not available.
© 2003 The Age