Vic: Firefighters make progress in cool weather spell

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2009
Vic: Firefighters make progress in cool weather spell

MELBOURNE, Feb 13 AAP - A spell of cool, calmer weather has allowed firefighters to
build new control lines and extend others as Victoria's bushfire crisis enters its sixth
day with 15 blazes still out of control.

Cool conditions had reduced the intensity of many fires, allowing fire crews to backburn,
fortify control lines and black out areas they had not previously been able to reach,
Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman Kevin Monk said.

But the race was on to get on top of the fires before expected extreme temperatures
and hot northerly winds by Wednesday and the possibility of lightning strikes on Monday
that could start new fires.

Up to 60 bulldozers were working to build control lines on the eastern edge of the
108,000 Yea-Murrindini fires, a part of the massive Kinglake Complex that has so far claimed
147 lives, he said.

"We've done a lot of consolidation work on our fire lines and some of our crews are
having a rest," Mr Monk said.

Work on the Yea-Murrindindi fore would better protect communities near Alexandra in
the north and Healesville in the south, Mr Monk said.

Communities in Healesville, Chum Creek, Badger Creek, Steels Creek, Dixons Creek, Yarra
Glen, Toolangi and Castella were advised to remain alert to fire activity.

The 25,000ha Bunyip Ridge fire remained quiet during the cool weather, allowing firefighters
to black out and mop up in troublesome sectors of the blaze, he said.

There are fears that the Bunyip Ridge blaze in Gippsland and the Yea-Murrindindi fires
to the north may join unless protective work being carried out succeeds.

Melbourne's already drought-starved water catchments could also be under threat by
fires sparked by lightning strikes near Healesville and Warburton, just east of Melbourne.

Major fires still burning out of control include the Churchill-Jeeralang fire (21 fatalities,
36,000ha) and the Beechworth blaze (two fatalities, 30,700ha).

Two other blazes, at Dargo in the high country (15,000ha) and at Wilsons Promontory
(2,850ha) are burning unchecked in inaccessible country.

The death toll from the Victorian bushfires is expected to rise well over the 181 confirmed
fatalities already recorded.

More than 450,000 hectares of land has been blackened, with 1,069 homes destroyed.

AAP jrd/ss

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC

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