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Gippsland Fires Update

It’s been a busy day for fire authorities in Gippsland despite the cooler weather that followed yesterday’s extreme fire conditions

By DSE/CFA - 3rd February 2003 - Back to News

The day’s first priority has been to determine precisely where fire is still burning after the extensive spotting that occurred throughout a large area yesterday

Firefighters have attended trouble spots in the Bindi/Tongio area, with aerial bombing being used on the Lees Track spur, and heavy machinery being sent to the Angora range area south of Brookville as well as an area south of Nunniong road near the Great White Hope track to the east of Benambra.

Fire crews based at Omeo and Swifts Creek still have a lot of work ahead, with fire running in sections of bushland to the east and west of the Omeo and Tambo Valleys. Their plan is to hold it within containment lines as long as possible while they wait for more rainfall.

Incident Controller at Swifts Creek, Ben Rankin, says: "Yesterday’s magnificent effort by the people of the area helped to keep fire damage to a minimum, but there’s no room for complacency."

Further east, an outbreak near McKillop’s Bridge is a priority, with fire burning on both sides of the Snowy River, while communities at Gelantipy, Wulgulmerang and Suggan Buggan are also doing their best to contain a number of outbreaks which began yesterday as spot fires.

Many of these fires are in extremely inaccessible country and people are warned that the fire has the potential to continue burning for weeks yet.

Incident Controller at Orbost, Dennis Matthews, says: "Fire conditions in some areas remain extreme and there is little chance to extinguishing some fires."

"Residents should be aware that it may not be possible to get fire crews to protect their property, and the best form of protection you can have is to plan ahead and consider your options well before an emergency develops."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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