120 Wild fires rip through Australia
Pastor Dale Morgan
*120 Wild fires rip through Australia
*
By Julie Tullberg and Jane Williams
December 02, 2006 10:39pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - VICTORIANS are bracing for one of the worst summers of
fires, as about 120 blazes ripped through bushland across the state today.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment's resources were
already stretched on the second day of summer as about 450 firefighters
battled the fires, particularly strong in Victoria's high country.
Most of the fires started from lightning strikes in Victoria's high
country in Gippsland and the state's northeast.
DSE spokesman Peter Billing said by this evening, 50 fires were out of
control, 55 under control and 13 contained.
“There are eight fires that we are having difficulty with,” Mr Billing said.
“There are three fires near Heyfield in high country, two in the Upper
Goulburn Valley and three in the Ovens district. Our worst fire is at Mt
Terrible, which has burned 136ha in thick forest that is inaccessible.”
Mr Billing said 26 aircraft were tackling the fires in all districts, as
pilots and crews worked around the clock to contain them before
fire-fanning weather arrived on Tuesday.
“We've got everything we can in use at the moment in a sustained
operation,” Mr Billing said.
Asked whether the fire situation was a crisis, Mr Billing said: “It's a
sustained firefighting operation at a high level of activity.”
The DSE is gravely concerned about weather forecasted for Tuesday, which
is expected to be hot, dry and windy.
“We're aware the weather conditions will deteriorate on Tuesday,” Mr
Billing said.
“There will be a maximum effort to get these fires pinned down by
Tuesday morning.”
Campers and day trippers have been told to leave the Upper Goulburn
Valley as the bushfires move closer to populated areas.
Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman Darren Skelton
said Mt Terrible posed the greatest threat, just 5m southeast of the
town of Kevington.
Another fire was burning 6km east of the town of Whitfield this evening.
Both fires were moving towards private property.
The Mansfield Shire Council has nominated the Jamieson Hall and the
Mansfield Sport and Recreation Centre as evacuation points.
Police said anyone camping or entering the Upper Goulburn valley area
between Jamieson and Knockwood should leave.
Motorists are advised to avoid using the Jamieson-Woods Point Road as
firefighters bring in heavy equipment.
Travellers already in fire-affected areas were advised to listen to ABC
and local radio, ensure family and friends know their whereabouts and
are aware of increased traffic on roads and tracks.
Incident management centres have been set up at Mansfield, Ovens,
Wangaratta and Benalla to help manage the fires.