Lightning sparks new Australian Wildfires
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Lightning sparks new Australian Wildfires*
By Jamie Duncan and Patrick Caruana
February 14, 2007 07:14pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - LIGHTNING has sparked a series of new bushfires across Victoria.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) crews have responded
to 10 new fires in Victoria's northeast, stretching from Kinglake and
Flowerdale, near Melbourne, to Yackandandah and Tallangatta, near
Wodonga, DSE fire manager Peter Farrell said today.
The fires followed "significant lightning activity", Mr Farrell said.
"With severe thunderstorms forecast, there is a strong probability that
there will continue to be additional reports of new fires throughout the
evening," he said.
"Water-bombing aircraft are supporting ground crews where possible in an
attempt to quickly round up the fires."
Meanwhile, DSE firefighters hope to have a 3ha fire at Bemm River, near
Orbost in far-east Gippsland, contained by tonight.
In the northwest, fire-spotting aircraft have been deployed to keep
watch for fires expected in the Mallee and the regions around Mildura
and south of Swan Hill because of lightning strikes this afternoon.
DSE crews controlled two small fires from lightning strikes in scrub
south of Castlemaine, near Bendigo, last night.
Smoke has been reported today in the Murray Sunset, Big Desert and
Wyperfeld national parks.
A fire bomber and ground crews have been sent to the areas.
The latest fires come after Victorian Regional Development Minister John
Brumby today announced a $1 million package to assist fire-damaged
tourist locations in Gippsland and the northeast to reopen before the
Labour Day weekend next month or the April school holidays.
Several areas in the region, including Mount Buffalo National Park and
hiking areas at Mount Bogong, have already reopened to the public.
During a visit to Bright, Regional Development Minister John Brumby said
the Government wanted popular camping, hiking, four-wheel-driving and
horse-riding areas reopened as quickly as possible.
"The focus is now on opening tourists sites people are eager to visit,"
he said.
Mr Brumby also announced a $500,000 joint state and Federal Government
package to assist small businesses in fire-damaged areas.
Fires this summer in Victoria have burnt almost 1.2 million ha of land
in eastern Victoria.
Though the two fires in the Great Dividing Range have been contained,
the DSE reminded Victorians earlier this week that the period of
greatest threat remains until April.