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Gippsland Fires UpdateToday will be a day of assessment and consolidation for firefighters and residents tackling the Gippsland fires. By DSE/CFA - 31st January 2003 - Back to News Today will be a day of assessment and consolidation for firefighters and residents tackling the Gippsland fires.
Areas including Mt Hotham and Harrietville, Eskdale and Mitta Mitta further north, Omeo and Benambra in the south, and Suggan Buggan, Wulgulmerang and Gelantipy in the east, faced the brunt of the fires yesterday with property losses kept to a minimum.
Reports so far confirm four houses were burnt yesterday in Omeo, with reports of three more affected in Wulgulmeragng, but more assessment will be done this morning in areas including Brookville, Cassillis and the Bindi Valley.
A large number of spot fires started during the afternoon, and today’s top priority is to establish which outbreaks are currently causing the most concern and to prevent their spread.
Meanwhile, aircraft have been deployed since last evening to give a more accurate picture of the fires in the region. Yesterday’s weather created some extreme and unusual fire behaviour, and a top priority is to establish precisely which areas are now of greatest concern.
However, much to the relief of everyone concerned, cooler and more stable weather conditions are forecast for the next four days before temperatures rise again towards the middle of next week.
So today’s strategy will change from asset protection to rounding up fire edges, backburning to containment lines and re-establishing contol lines.
TXU crews are entering the area to work on powerlines, after many power poles were damaged in recent days.
The fire fighting effort will also be helped by the arrival in Gippsland today of a contingent of approximately 20 firefighters from the USA.
Air support is being boosted as well, with the Ericsson Skycrane being deployed to the area. It is likely to be tasked to assist at Gelantipy, which remains on alert.
Good flying conditions today which will assist in remapping of fire edges and identifying spot fires from yesterday to prioritise work over the next 4 days
Meanwhile, two trucks have come through the Swifts Creek area to assist in relocation of stock. It is hoped that trucks loaded with hay donated by Victorian Farmers Federation will be allowed to head for Omeo today.
Police and fire authorities are reminded that a number of roads have been closed for safety reasons. People with direct pecuniary interests in the fire-affected areas will be allowed through in some cases, but they are being warned that they do so entirely at their own risk.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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