*Australian Wildfire still out of control*

March 12, 2007 01:33pm
Article from: AAP

FIREFIGHTERS battling a blaze which has ripped through 12,400ha of bush
on Tasmania's King Island for the last three weeks hope to bring it
under control this week

Incident controller Gavin Freeman said the southern boundaries of the
fire were now contained but a small section in the north was posing
problems because trucks could not access the area.

"Ground crews using hoses and hand tools are pumping water from a dam
onto the northern section of the blaze," Mr Freeman said.

"The problem is the terrain is relatively inaccessible for trucks. It is
not over yet but we have 90 per cent of it contained and hope that
favourable weather this week will allow us to bring it under control by
Wednesday."

The fire has blackened 10 per cent of the island and 70 per cent of its
natural vegetation.

Mr Freeman said 36 firefighters were working on the blaze but that
number would be bolstered by mainland crews tomorrow.