FED: Snapshot of Vic Bushfires
09 Feb 2009 7:50 PM
Subject: FED: Snapshot of Vic Bushfires FED: Snapshot of Vic Bushfires
SNAPSHOT OF VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES, February 9
Death toll: 131
(Kinglake 33; Kinglake West 9; St Andrews 6; Humevale 6; Wandong 4; Eaglehawk 1; Strathewen 7; Callignee 9; Upper Callignee 1; Hazelwood 4; Jeeralang 1; Flowerdale 4; Hazeldene 2; Taggerty 3; Marysville 12; Steels Creek 7; Mudgeegonga 2; Yarra Glen 1; Koornalla 4; Narbethong 9; unknown location 6.
Number of fires
Victoria - 28 bushfires remain out of control, with eight others contained and dozens more under control.
Injuries:
Victoria - 20 people admitted to The Alfred hospital with burns. Ten remain in a critical condition and the others are in a stable condition. Ambulance Victoria unable to collate the number of people with lesser injuries.
Losses:
Victoria - at least 700 homes destroyed, including 550 in the Kinglake area; more than 330,000ha burnt out.
Fighting the fires:
Victoria - More than 2,700 Victorian firefighters (1,500 DSE, 1,200 CFA, 28 MFB); 342 fire vehicles (211 DSE, 248 CFA, 6 MFB); 66 bulldozers; and 44 aircraft.
Weather:
Victoria - forecast state max on Tuesday is 25 at Mildura and Swan Hill; Melbourne max 20; Isolated showers on and south of the ranges. Dry in the north. Cool to mild with moderate to fresh southwest to southerly winds. Very high to extreme fire danger in the north.
A fire weather warning for Tuesday is current in parts of the northern country and north central forecast districts. Temperatures up to 24 degrees, relative humidity down to 14 per cent and winds to 45km/h will cause extreme fire danger within grasslands, the Bureau of Meteorology says. The CFA advises people living in areas at risk of fire to activate their bush fire plan.
Main fires:
KINGLAKE COMPLEX
- The ferocious East Kilmore and Murrindindi Mill fires have merged, burning almost 230,000ha together. The fire has razed 550 homes and has killed 103 people in all in a wide area from Wandong, north of Melbourne, to Marysville and Taggerty by 7pm (AEDT) on Monday. Worst hit towns include Kinglake (33 deaths), Kinglake West (9 deaths), Marysville (12 deaths) and Steels Creek (7 deaths). residents of Toolangi, Connellys Creek, Acheron, Crystal Creek, Crystal Creek Road, Scrubby Creek and along Whanregarwen Road from the Maroondah Highway near Alexandra and through to Molesworth may be directly impacted upon by this fire
BEECHWORTH
- A 30,000-hectare blaze south-east of Beechworth, in Victoria's north-east, still listed as out of control as at 7pm Monday. Urgent threat message for residents in Dederang, Gundowring, Gundowring Upper, Glen Creek, Kergunyah South, Mudgeegonga and Running Creek, with fire activity significantly escalating and spotting occurring ahead of the main front. Affected towns under ember attack and residents asked to enact fire plan.
CHURCHILL
- The CFA has warned that the 33,380ha Churchill fire in the Latrobe Valley region of Gippsland was increasing in size on Monday evening because of a change in thee weather, and properties in the tiny settlement of Won Wron are likely to be directly affected.
BUNYIP
- More than 25,000ha of state park and private land now burned. Residents of Nayook warned to be on the lookout for fire activity.
DARGO
- Alpine fire in East Gippsland approximately 15,000ha in size.
REDESDALE
- DSE bulldozers are working to contain the 9,500ha grass fire. Blaze is no longer expanding.
AAP jrd/de =0A
FED: Snapshot of Vic Bushfires