Firebreaks and Asset Protection are Priorities

Window of opportunity afforded by the milder conditions

By DSE/CFA - 28th January 2003 - Back to News

Fire crews are using the window of opportunity afforded by the milder conditions to focus heavily on backburning and firebreaks to protect communities before tomorrow’s predicted hot weather.

Backburning has continued towards Mt Mesley north of Omeo today and if favourable conditions persist, unburnt areas on the mountain will be burnt out tonight.

Areas of concern continue to be south west of Hotham and Dinner Plain, where backburning operations are underway, and east of Omeo and Benambra, where spotovers flared up on Sunday.

Progress is slow on the backburns as extreme caution is still necessary. The spotovers remain contained with crews in attendance.

Spot fires in the upper Dargo River have burnt up towards the Alpine road east of Dinner plain, crews in attendance are monitoring and look to backburn from the road this afternoon.

Fire activity south of Hotham is causing embers to drop in the Davenport Village area of Hotham.

Property losses confirmed in the area affected by Sunday’s fire activity are: six houses at Cobungra, seven houses in the Bundara, Beloka, Shannonvale area, four houses north of Benambra, one shearing shed, eight other structures (sheds etc.) and two bridges (Livingstone Bridge and Gibbo River bridge). There have been no reports of property loss at Hotham Village.

The Department of Primary Industries, in conjunction with the EG Shire will be coordinating burial pits for those landholders who have suffered stock losses in the fires. This is a free service to assist landholders and to ensure that dead stock are disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner. Please contact the Community Fire Information line on 1800 668 066 for advice and assistance and to report any stock losses.

DPI vets and Animal health staff are also available to assist with the care of injured stock and the humane destruction of suffering stock. Contact the 1800 668 066 number for this assistance.

For more information about the fire situation and how it affects you and to report stock losses of injuries, call the Gippsland Community Fire Information line: 1800 668 066.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com