ID :
42233
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 08:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/42233
The shortlink copeid
Woodend homes at risk: Vic firefighters
Residents of Woodend, north of Melbourne have been warned their homes are under
threat with a forecast wind change expected to send a raging bushfire toward the
town.
The southern edge of the town, 75km north of Melbourne, is on high alert as the
northerly wind change with gusts over 110km/h is expected to hit early on Thursday
evening, swinging the five hectare fire toward homes, the Country Fire Authority
(CFA) says.
Malmsbury and Taradale, around 30km to the north, are no longer under direct threat
after fire had closed in on the townships late on Thursday afternoon. They were
given the slight reprieve just after 6pm (AEDT).
But residents of Malmsbury and Taradale and rural communities in between are still
urged to be on high alert as a fire at Drummond North continues to burn in an
easterly direction.
More than 100 hectares of land have been burnt out near Woodend, while 200 hectares
have been hit near Malmsbury.
The fire was spotting into rural land to the west of Malmsbury, and firefighters had
feared it would turn north toward Taradale.
The Melbourne to Bendigo rail line has been closed, severely disrupting thousands of
peak-hour commuters.
Firefighters across the state are also having to battle wild weather as high winds,
storms and lightning strikes cause havoc.
Lightning started one fire in the east of the state in Gippsland and the Department
of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) fears a band of lightning which was crossing
the region Thursday afternoon could ignite more.
Fire crews contained the lightning fire at Centre Track, 7km south-west of
Mallacoota near the NSW border, by 6.30pm (AEDT) on Thursday.
A fire at Stuart Creek, 10km north-east of Bruthen in Gippsland, has also been
contained but crews have been unable to locate a fire reported at Mountain Ash
Creek, 15km north-west of Glencairn.
Crews will continue to search when weather conditions in the area improve.
Two separate blazes burning close to each other in the South-East Forests National
Park at Yambulla, also near the NSW border, have remained stable and firefighters
are working in steep, rugged terrain to complete control lines around them.
A one-hectare fire at Morris Peak, 11km north-west of Bullumwaal, should be under
control by Thursday night.
Earlier on Thursday, CFA crews contained a fire that had threatened houses in the
bayside suburb of Seaford, in Melbourne's south.
It was the second fire in the area this week and police are investigating its cause.
Police are also treating a small fire which burnt through the parched bed of Lake
Wendouree in Ballarat as suspicious.
The formerly deep lake has been dry for three years because of the drought and its
bed has been taken over by a noxious weed.
There are no fire bans in Victoria on Friday.
CFA chief officer Russell Rees warned Victorians to expect more danger.
"Do not be complacent. The honeymoon is over, the fire season is here amongst us and
we need to work together," Mr Rees told reporters.
"This last week and a half of hot weather has dried the fuel out completely for much
of Victoria. The end result is we get fires and they're hard to extinguish.
"Saturday and Sunday should be OK, but it'll be heating up by Monday, I'd say
Tuesday's getting closer to the worry day. Traditionally February is the worst month
for Victoria."
Meanwhile, high winds and storms caused widespread damage and road closures
throughout the state.
The State Emergency Service has responded to more than 200 incidents so far on
Thursday.
A house in Violet Town in the state's north had its roof blown off in the wind,
while fallen trees have closed a large number of roads and damaged homes.
Hot winds fanned dust storms across the state, reaching Melbourne on Thursday
afternoon, although the winds, which gusted up to 119 km/h had eased by early
evening.
Severe thunderstorms are predicted by the weather bureau in the north-east of the
state, particularly in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Sale and Bairnsdale.
The storms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones, very heavy
rainfall and flash flooding.
Gale warnings are in place for coastal areas.
threat with a forecast wind change expected to send a raging bushfire toward the
town.
The southern edge of the town, 75km north of Melbourne, is on high alert as the
northerly wind change with gusts over 110km/h is expected to hit early on Thursday
evening, swinging the five hectare fire toward homes, the Country Fire Authority
(CFA) says.
Malmsbury and Taradale, around 30km to the north, are no longer under direct threat
after fire had closed in on the townships late on Thursday afternoon. They were
given the slight reprieve just after 6pm (AEDT).
But residents of Malmsbury and Taradale and rural communities in between are still
urged to be on high alert as a fire at Drummond North continues to burn in an
easterly direction.
More than 100 hectares of land have been burnt out near Woodend, while 200 hectares
have been hit near Malmsbury.
The fire was spotting into rural land to the west of Malmsbury, and firefighters had
feared it would turn north toward Taradale.
The Melbourne to Bendigo rail line has been closed, severely disrupting thousands of
peak-hour commuters.
Firefighters across the state are also having to battle wild weather as high winds,
storms and lightning strikes cause havoc.
Lightning started one fire in the east of the state in Gippsland and the Department
of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) fears a band of lightning which was crossing
the region Thursday afternoon could ignite more.
Fire crews contained the lightning fire at Centre Track, 7km south-west of
Mallacoota near the NSW border, by 6.30pm (AEDT) on Thursday.
A fire at Stuart Creek, 10km north-east of Bruthen in Gippsland, has also been
contained but crews have been unable to locate a fire reported at Mountain Ash
Creek, 15km north-west of Glencairn.
Crews will continue to search when weather conditions in the area improve.
Two separate blazes burning close to each other in the South-East Forests National
Park at Yambulla, also near the NSW border, have remained stable and firefighters
are working in steep, rugged terrain to complete control lines around them.
A one-hectare fire at Morris Peak, 11km north-west of Bullumwaal, should be under
control by Thursday night.
Earlier on Thursday, CFA crews contained a fire that had threatened houses in the
bayside suburb of Seaford, in Melbourne's south.
It was the second fire in the area this week and police are investigating its cause.
Police are also treating a small fire which burnt through the parched bed of Lake
Wendouree in Ballarat as suspicious.
The formerly deep lake has been dry for three years because of the drought and its
bed has been taken over by a noxious weed.
There are no fire bans in Victoria on Friday.
CFA chief officer Russell Rees warned Victorians to expect more danger.
"Do not be complacent. The honeymoon is over, the fire season is here amongst us and
we need to work together," Mr Rees told reporters.
"This last week and a half of hot weather has dried the fuel out completely for much
of Victoria. The end result is we get fires and they're hard to extinguish.
"Saturday and Sunday should be OK, but it'll be heating up by Monday, I'd say
Tuesday's getting closer to the worry day. Traditionally February is the worst month
for Victoria."
Meanwhile, high winds and storms caused widespread damage and road closures
throughout the state.
The State Emergency Service has responded to more than 200 incidents so far on
Thursday.
A house in Violet Town in the state's north had its roof blown off in the wind,
while fallen trees have closed a large number of roads and damaged homes.
Hot winds fanned dust storms across the state, reaching Melbourne on Thursday
afternoon, although the winds, which gusted up to 119 km/h had eased by early
evening.
Severe thunderstorms are predicted by the weather bureau in the north-east of the
state, particularly in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Sale and Bairnsdale.
The storms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones, very heavy
rainfall and flash flooding.
Gale warnings are in place for coastal areas.
