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Update On Gippsland Fire Situation 1200Hrs

Wilsons Promontory-Cathedral Range Fire

By DSE - 13th February 2009 - Back to News

An observation flight early this morning confirmed the Cathedral fire had not increased in size. There are hotspots on the northern edge of the fire that are currently being tended to by a water-bombing helicopter.

A remote weather station will be installed today within a blackened area close to Five Mile beach in an effort to obtain more accurate weather data.

No planned burn operations will take place today as conditions are unsuitable, particularly due to gusting easterly winds. No planned burns have occurred to date.

Crews will continue with the construction of fall-back control lines at Millers Landing and west of the Vereker Range. Cultural heritage values have been considered during the construction of all fall-back control lines, however two dedicated cultural heritage officers will continue work today to ensure all machinery do not impact upon Aboriginal cultural values.

Yesterday, hygiene protocols were put in place to ensure machinery working on fall-back control lines do not spread soil pathogens between sites, such as cinnamon fungus. In addition, staff also performed minor protection works on populations of the threatened eastern spider orchid.

Other crews will continue with asset protection work around Tidal River. At present vegetation close to priority assets has been trimmed to create a 3 metre perimeter, including the Tidal River Visitor Centre, store, power plant, waste water and water treatment plant, staff housing and historic lightstation.

Dargo-White Timber Spur Fire

There will be reconnaissance flight over the fire area today. DSE crews will be working on the black edge of the fire creating a control line with handtools.

The Dargo High Plains Rd remains closed to traffic. The closure will be reviewed in coming days.

East Tyers-Thomson Fire

There is currently no running edge but there are a number of smoking trees within the fire perimeter. Local and North East DSE region crews are constructing a control line by hand along the black edge as the fire ground is still too wet for machinery to operate.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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