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Fires Nearly Out

The rain is slowly making its way across Gippsland from the north west

By Gippsland Fire Information - 21st February 2003 - Back to News

The Bogong Complex (south) Fires

Dargo Incident Control Fires

All is quiet in the Dargo area, where crews worked well into the night until the rain started.

Work today will concentrate on blacking out and will continue until the rain becomes significant.

The Dargo Incident Management Team will be relocated to Heyfield DPI office today and Dargo will remain as a Divisional Headquarters.

Swifts Creek Incident Control Fires

A good day yesterday and a quiet night have provided some respite for crews in the Swifts Creek area.

While there have only been one or two millimetres of rainfall so far, it is keeping fire behaviour quiet and helping consolidate the fire edge.

The backburn in the Nunniong Road area has been going well and the edges are now being blacked out.

There was a lot of fire activity in the Groves Gap/Danes Creek area yesterday, which is being closely watched. Crews are mopping up and patrolling here.

The Tongio West division is now officially contained.

In the Swifts Creek controlled area, maps on community notice boards will now be updated every four days. Please call the Community Information Unit on 51 595143 if you require further information.

Orbost Incident Control Fires

Another good day yesterday saw eight to ten kilometres of backburning completed from Monkey Top, north up Minchins Track to Yalmy Road. This has been blacked out already, so a great achievement by crews here.

Backburning to protect private property will continue, with more to be done down the Yalmy Road and Lightning Track, depending on the weather conditions.

Weather

The rain is slowly making its way across Gippsland from the north west. Mount Hotham has had 16mm this morning, but the rest of the region is expected to get lighter falls of between five and 15 mms. The winds will be light north easterly, fresher at higher levels.

More (moderate) rainfall is predicted!

School and bus services

The Dargo Primary School will resume on Monday February 24. Tubbut Primary School will then be the only school in the Gippsland region yet to resume.

Buses servicing Omeo Primary School, Swifts Creek Primary School and Swifts Creek Secondary College WILL RECOMMENCE on Monday February 24. This decision has been made in consultation with the Swifts Creek Incident Control Centre.

The Bruthen Phelan (Riveria Tours) Bus has resumed its normal run now that the Great Alpine Road is open. The Mount Taylor McCoy bus will also resume its normal run from Monday February 24.

Road transport

There is a manned roadblock north of Buchan on the Gelantipy Road, with a permit system for stock and fodder transport beyond these points.

People will need to contact 1800 668 066 to make an application to transport livestock or fodder through the roadblock.

Entry will only be allowed if the load and the conditions are suitable. Any loads of fodder must be covered with a tarpaulin to reduce the risk of embers igniting the load.

The roadblock is in place for safety reasons as there are still smouldering trees, stock on the road and contractors working on the road. Anyone travelling through the area must proceed with caution, turn on their lights if conditions are smoky and reduce speed.

VicRoads staff are currently carrying out safety checks on this road.

Refuge Areas

There are Emergency Refuge Centres at: Tubbut Hall, Bonang Hall, Delegate River Tavern, Karoondah Park, Gelantipy.

Bombala High School and Delegate Primary School are refuge and registration sites for the movement of people in the area. The Dargo Hall is a registration and refuge area only at times of high risk.

The Orbost Staging Area has been relocated from Lochiel Park to the DPI Orbost North Depot on the Bonang Highway.

If you leave your home or town you are requested to inform the Australian Red Cross staff at your local refuge area, who are keeping track of all movements during the fires for safety reasons.

If you have already registered but you then change your plans it is important to inform the Red Cross. Also, if you leave your vehicle at a staging area they should be informed.

Road news:

• The Great Alpine Road from Bruthen to Dinner Plain is now open, but roads and tracks off that road are still closed
• Benambra-Corryong road, from Stacey’s Bridge to Omeo - closed
• Benambra-Limestone Road/Limestone-Black Mountain Road from Benambra to Suggan Buggan - closed
• Bogong High Plains Road is now open between Mount Beauty and the Omeo Highway, but there is no access to the Omeo Highway, which remains closed from Omeo to Mitta Mitta. 
• Dargo High Plains Road between Dargo and Mt Hotham - closed
• Gelantipy Road, from Buchan to Wulgulmerang - closed
• Snowy River Road from Wulgulmerang to NSW - closed
• McKillops Road from Wulgulmerang to Bonang - closed
• Cabanandra Road - closed
• Dellicknora Road – closed

The following roads and tracks are closed due to backburning operations along the Yalmy Road:

• Yalmy Road from Bonang Highway (just south of Bonang) to Orbost
• 36 mile Road between Yalmy Road and Bonang Highway
• Jersey Track between Yalmy Road and Bonang Highway

Motorists are warned not to drive through roadblocks, even if the fire has passed and it appears to be safe. Smouldering trees could fall across the road well after the fire has been through.

Fire Recovery Information Sessions

Farmers affected by fire are invited to a 2 hour On-farm information session to address key issues that will influence farm recovery from the fires.

These sessions are being conducted jointly by the Department of Primary Industries and the VFF.

Topics include:

• Feeding livestock
• A farmer’s experience in recovery after fire
• Pasture recovery from the fire

Sessions will be held in:

Omeo/Swifts Creek area on Monday March 3, 10.00am till 12.00pm

Omeo Valley/Benambra on Monday March 3, 2.00pm till 4.00pm

Wulgulmerang on Tuesday March 4, 10.00am till 12.00pm

For details please call DPI Bairnsdale on 51 520600

Community meetings will be held at the following places over the coming weeks:

• Friday February 21: Walhalla Mechanics Institute, 6.30pm
• Monday February 24: Willow Grove Community Hall (for Willow Grove and Westbury communities), 7.30pm
• Tuesday February 25: Erica Hall, 7.00pm
• Friday February 28: Noojee Hall, 7.30pm
• Wednesday March 5: Labertouche Hall, 8.00pm

The Gippsland Community Fire Information Line is: 1800 668 066

Please note: this number is now operating between 8.00am and 8.00pm seven days a week

This number will give you information on every aspect of the fire situation in Gippsland, your bushfire preparation and planning and further contacts that you might need. It is also to report stock losses and get help to treat injured stock from DPI Animal Health staff.

Injured Wildlife

The bushfires will have a dramatic impact on local wildlife. Wildlife not killed outright will suffer burns, smoke inhalation and eye injuries. Those animals not injured may find it difficult to find shelter and food.

Many of these animals will have sought refuges from the fires and may find their way into your garden or in the vicinity of your property. Please spare the time to search around your property for animals sitting on the ground or perched low in a tree.

You can help surviving wildlife by leaving out fresh water in a safe place, away from cats and dogs.

If you find an animal that you think has been a victim of the fires contact WILDLIFE VICTORIA RESCUE – 0500 540 000 or 0428 540 000 or HELP FOR WILDLIFE, which is a 24 hour Wildlife Emergency Service, on 0417 380 687. Please do not deliver injured wildlife to any DPI offices!

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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