ID :
45480
Sat, 02/14/2009 - 08:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/45480
The shortlink copeid
Weather may aid firefighters in Victoria
(AAP) - Good weather will give firefighters little respite this weekend as 15 fires continue
to burn across Victoria.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) deputy chief John Haynes said the main focus for 3,000
firefighters on the job was to consolidate containment lines at all fire sites.
The blaze of most concern on Friday was in the township Chum Creek, northwest of
Healesville, Mr Haynes said.
"That will put up quite a lot of smoke today, it was active overnight, there was
backburning to consolidate the control lines and that will now be burning out," he
told reporters.
He warned there would be smoke and ash moving over Melbourne's central business
district and the outskirts of eastern suburbs brought on by easterly winds for the
rest of Friday and into Saturday.
"Although we've had some really good weather over the last couple of days with lower
winds, (and) we've done a lot of good work in stitching up a lot of the fire edges,
there is still a threat across Victoria," he said.
"... there is a threat for weeks to come."
He called on Melbourne residents to avoid dialling triple-zero if they saw smoke or
ash. However people should alert authorities if they saw flames.
CFA and Department of Sustainability and Environment crews and bulldozers would be
on site controlling the blaze at Chum Creek, Mr Haynes said.
An uncontained edge of a fire burning around the Maroondah Reservoir was also of
concern, he said.
"It's very difficult country - steep, dippy, rocky and then high mountain forest -
so it will take time," he said.
A fire at O'Shannassy Reservoir also continues to burn but the blaze at Upper Yarra
Dam is largely contained.
The other concern is the Rubicon area on the northeast corner of the Murrindindi
complex east of Alexandra.
"It flared overnight, it will flare again today although again the easterly (wind)
will push it back on itself. It's good in some ways but we're expecting quite a deal
of fire activity there," Mr Haynes said.
The Bunyip fire should not pose any threat for the rest of Friday, despite activity
in the northeast and northwest corners.
Rain had helped settle activity in east Gippsland near Dargo but with low rainfall,
firefighters at Wilson's Promontory are expecting flare-ups in coming days.
"We're monitoring that and that poses no threats to assets," Mr Haynes said.
to burn across Victoria.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) deputy chief John Haynes said the main focus for 3,000
firefighters on the job was to consolidate containment lines at all fire sites.
The blaze of most concern on Friday was in the township Chum Creek, northwest of
Healesville, Mr Haynes said.
"That will put up quite a lot of smoke today, it was active overnight, there was
backburning to consolidate the control lines and that will now be burning out," he
told reporters.
He warned there would be smoke and ash moving over Melbourne's central business
district and the outskirts of eastern suburbs brought on by easterly winds for the
rest of Friday and into Saturday.
"Although we've had some really good weather over the last couple of days with lower
winds, (and) we've done a lot of good work in stitching up a lot of the fire edges,
there is still a threat across Victoria," he said.
"... there is a threat for weeks to come."
He called on Melbourne residents to avoid dialling triple-zero if they saw smoke or
ash. However people should alert authorities if they saw flames.
CFA and Department of Sustainability and Environment crews and bulldozers would be
on site controlling the blaze at Chum Creek, Mr Haynes said.
An uncontained edge of a fire burning around the Maroondah Reservoir was also of
concern, he said.
"It's very difficult country - steep, dippy, rocky and then high mountain forest -
so it will take time," he said.
A fire at O'Shannassy Reservoir also continues to burn but the blaze at Upper Yarra
Dam is largely contained.
The other concern is the Rubicon area on the northeast corner of the Murrindindi
complex east of Alexandra.
"It flared overnight, it will flare again today although again the easterly (wind)
will push it back on itself. It's good in some ways but we're expecting quite a deal
of fire activity there," Mr Haynes said.
The Bunyip fire should not pose any threat for the rest of Friday, despite activity
in the northeast and northwest corners.
Rain had helped settle activity in east Gippsland near Dargo but with low rainfall,
firefighters at Wilson's Promontory are expecting flare-ups in coming days.
"We're monitoring that and that poses no threats to assets," Mr Haynes said.
