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Fire Crews Prepare For Extreme Fire Weather

Extreme fire behaviour overnight in the Bogong

By DSE/CFA - 24th January 2003 - Back to News

Extreme fire behaviour overnight in the Bogong (South) Complex led to spotovers occuring below the Alpine Way, north west of Hotham at about 2.00am this morning.

Fire crews were initially withdrawn from this fire because it was too fierce to work on safely, but have now gone back in and are attacking the fire at Mount Blowhard. Aircraft will be supporting this attack as soon as cloud lifts.

Successful backburns have been completed around isolated properties at Uplands and along the Benambra-Corryong road to protect both private properties and the wooden bridges along that road.

Incident Controller at Swifts Creek, Ewan Waller said that the priority for today is to extend heavy plant protection works into the populated Cassilis Valley north west of Swifts Creek and actions are well advanced to prepare for the expected threat this weekend.

"The indications are that there will be severe fire weather on Saturday and that control will be difficult," Mr Waller said.

"All agencies are committed to working with these communities to minimise the damage in these trying circumstances."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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