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East Gippsland Communities On High Fire Alert

Gippslanders feel the influence of the Bogong Complex fire

By DSE/CFA - 27th January 2003 - Back to News

Gippsland communities from the NSW border through to around Dargo, can expect to feel the influence of the Bogong Complex fire over the next few days, if the forecast hot north westerly winds arrive.

Later today and tomorrow, firefighters will face the most challenging conditions since last Sunday, when fires scorched homes, paddocks and livestock.

Incident Controller Ewan Waller said that the Bogong blaze will be driven towards Gelantipy in the east and Dargo in the west, with no realistic opportunities to pull it up.

"These remote communities will experience more smoke, and should be on alert should spot fires develop ahead of the main fire front," Mr Waller said.

"It was not possible to build containment lines in front of the eastern and western ends of the fire because of its sheer length and the terrain. We have controlled most of the spot fires thrown off the main blaze last Sunday, but the front of the fire will be driven along by the coming winds."

All recent efforts have centred on protecting private property, with many kilometres of bulldozed and graded tracks established between farmland and bush.

"Overnight, our crews finished dozing and reinforcing containment lines around a fire at Splitters Range east of Omeo. This is critical in protecting Swifts Creek," Mr Waller said.

"Omeo will come under pressure again today, as there is still unburned country around the town".

CFA resources in the townships of Swifts Creek and Ensay will be boosted today, and a reserve CFA strike team will be available to be deployed from Bairnsdale.

"Firefighting on this scale is an enormous logistical exercise. The overall task has been complemented by the commitment of landholders to protect their own properties. CFA and DSE/DPI are indebted to groups like the Red Cross, and St John’s Ambulance who are caring for our communities. We have also been supported by many small and large businesses across Gippsland which are feeding and accommodating our people, and supplying machinery, equipment and operators."

"It continues to be a magnificent whole-community effort, but there are still very difficult times ahead of us."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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