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Gippsland Fires: Reinforcing The Control Line

Consolidation is the name of the game

By DSE/CFA - 11th February 2003 - Back to News

Consolidation is the name of the game again today in the ongoing efforts to control the Gippsland bushfires.

Cool and moist conditions slowed backburning efforts overnight, but work will continue today to strengthen control lines on the southern, western and eastern flanks of the fire.

The main aim at the fire’s western end is to reinforce the control line running from Mount Selwyn to Mount Sarah, then across to Dargo. This will help to prevent the fire spreading any further to the south and southwest.

At the eastern edge of the fire the focus is on keeping the fire within the Snowy River National Park and to the north of the Yalmy Road.

When these lines are well established it will make the backburning effort easier, and that should help firefighters build bigger breaks between the fire and unburnt areas.

At the same time, blacking out continues to progress well around Amboyn and Deddick.

An outbreak at Mount Ellery – in the south of the Erinundra National Park – has now burnt about 10 hectares and is being closely monitored.

Smoky conditions continue to make the use of aircraft difficult at times, but fire crews are using any windows of opportunity that present themselves to utilise the available aircraft to their maximum effect.

Anyone living, working or travelling in Gippsland who has concerns or questions about the fires should contact the Gippsland Community Fire Information Line:
1800 668 066

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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