North East Bushfire Update 5.50 pm - 17 Dec 06

Update on all the complexes in the North East including Mansfield, Wangaratta and Ovens. 17/12/2006

Spot fires in the Falls Creek area are being rounded up through the use of specialist rappel firefighters.

This technique involves using firefighters to rappel down ropes from a hovering helicopter to reach the fire ground, in areas where there is restricted clearing for helicopter landings. This technique is especially useful in being able to get firefighters on the ground in remote and difficult terrain.

Rappel firefighters are highly trained specialists and are an important tool in helping to manage the spread of wildfire.

Mansfield Complex

A strategic fire retardant operation has been undertaken at Mt Buller Alpine Village today. The operation involved the placement of fire retardant around valuable environmental assets, as a barrier against the possible attack from bushfires in the area.

This retardant is usually applied from the air, but was today laid using fire fighting tankers.

Residents in the Wood Point, Matlock, Jamieson Township and adjacent Jamieson-Licola Road areas, and Lower Howqua should remain vigilant, as crews will be conducting backburning activities in these areas over the next 24 hours.

Communities should be mindful that this burn will generate smoke and may also generate embers in the area. The works are being undertaken to protect communities from the threat of fire if weather conditions worsen. Additonal resources will be used to ensure that the burns are conducted safely.

Roads will see an increase in traffic with machinery and fire crews in the region.

Residents in the identified areas should remain on alert and be ready to activate their fire plans if required.

Ovens Complex

Nature has lent a much needed hand with spot fires around Mt Hotham and south east of the Rocky Valley Dam being contained by rainfall. Work continues on a spot fire below Howmans Gap.

Crews continue to work hard on containment with backburning being undertaken along the Old Big Hill Cattle Track to Crankie Charlie to strengthen containment lines south east of Mt Beauty. The backburning at German Creek to Tawonga Gap Road is now completed.

Backburning has been completed from Buffalo River to the Nug Nug Road, while asset protection continues around the Mt Buffalo Chalet and other infrastructure.

Backburning along Devils Creek Track is slow and continuing. This will help to strengthen containment lines.

The Alpine National Park is closed west of the Great Alpine Road, south of Whitfield and the Dargo High Plains. Access into this area from the North East and Gippsland has been closed. The Park is also closed west of the Omeo Highway and west of the Great Alpine Road including Mt Bogong, Bogong High Plains and Mt Feathertop.

Mt Buffalo National Park and Nug Nug Camping Ground are also closed.

Wangaratta Complex

Fire activity in the King Valley area has remained quiet. There will be a planned scale down of crews in this area over the coming week. Local crews are taking over patrolling for hotspots.

Roads that have been closed for safety reasons are now progressively being reopened.

Road Closures

For full details on road closures in the North East visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on 1800 240 667.

NORTH EAST ALPINE COMPLEX

The Tawonga Gap fire has reached 20,000ha and is just to the west and south of Mt. Beauty.

Backburning in the northern section of the Tawonga Gap fire has now been completed down to Tawonga Gap Road. There has been further work in the vicinity of Mt Beauty including some backburning done by the CFA on the western side of the Bogong High Plains Road. This activity will continue for several days in an effort to secure the edge of this fire.

Residents in the Whitfield, Mt Beauty, Tawonga, Tawonga South and Harrietville areas are advised to boil water for at least one minute before drinking.

North East Alps fire (215,000ha) extends from King Valley East to Mt Buffalo and south to the headwaters of the Macalister and Wonnangatta Rivers in Gippsland.

Strike teams are established at Falls Creek. Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain have resources based there ready for use by strike teams when required. These teams will enact plans developed during the 2003 incident when required.

Patrolling of the Smoko, Freeburg and Harrietville areas to protect assets is continuing.

For information on fires in Victoria and general fire safety, please contact the VBIL on freecall 1800 240 667. Callers who arfe deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech/communication impairment may call textphone telewriter (TTY) on 1800 122 969. Information is also available at www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires or www.cfa.vic.gov.au.

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Maps of North East and Gippsland 2.30 pm Sentinel Hotspots Maps 17/12/2006

Maps from the Sentinel Satellite hot spot data.

Map of North East & Gippsland fires - smaller file (jpg, 368Kb)
Mao of North East & Gippsland fires - larger file (pdf, 1.3Mb - large file)

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Road Closures fire affected area 11:10 am List of Road Closures for the fire area in the North East and Gippsland 17/12/2006

MANSFIELD FIRES

Ashwins road from Mansfield-Woods Road,Booralite

Buttercup Road at Greenways Road, Merrijig

Carter Road from Mt Buller Road

Eildon-Jamieson Road from Eildon / Snobs Creek to Jamieson

Howqua Hills Road (Howqua Track) from Mount Buller Road

Howqua River Road at Running Creek Camping Reserve, Howqua

Jamieson-Licola Road between Jamieson and Licola

Mansfield-Woods Point Road between Jamieson and Woods Point

Mitchells Track 2.5 klm off Side Ling ,Jamieson

Mount Buller Road from Merrijig to Mount Buller.

Steiners Road, Howqua Hills

Stirling Road from Mt Buller Road

Stony Creek Track from Mansfield-Woods Point Road at Corduroy Gap, Jamieson

Three Chain Road from Boorolite Chapel Hill Road

Warburton-Woods Point Road from Cumberland Junction (Marysville-Woods Point Road intersection) to Woods Point

NORTH EAST ALPS FIRES

Bogong High Plains Road from Mount Beauty to the Omeo Highway

Bright-Tawonga Road (Tawonga Gap Road) between Bright and Tawonga

Buckland Valley Road from Porepunkah Roundabout

Buffalo River Road at Merriang South

King Valley Road at Whitfield

Lake Buffalo-Whitfield Road from Black Range Creek Road to Buffalo River Road

Mount Buffalo Road from Park Entrance to Mount Buffalo

Rose River Road between Cheshunt and the Buffalo River Road

Simmonds Creek Road, Tawonga is open to 300mts passed the AnnapurnaWinery

GIPPSLAND FIRES

Binns Road 12 km north of Walhalla

Dargo High Plains Road between Mount Hotham and Dargo

Dargo Road from Fernbank-Glenaladale Rd (The Fingerboards)

Freestone Creek Road north of Briagolong - POLICE ROADBLOCK AUTHORISED ACCESS ONLY

Heyfield-Seaton Road at Springs Road, Seaton (west of Seaton)

Jacobs Creek Road at Moe-Rawson Road (Moe-Walhalla Road)

Licola Road north of Glenmaggie - POLICE ROADBLOCK - AUTHORISED ACCESS ONLY

Marathon Road at Gillios Road, north of Briagolong

Moroka Track at Gillios Road, north of Valencia Creek

Toongabbie-Cowwarr Road closed at Afflecks Road (Local traffic access only)

Stony Creek Road at Dowlings Road, Cowwarr

Thompson Dam Access Road / Walhalla Road from the Thompson Dam Wall to
Aberfeldy

Tyers-Thomson Valley Road at intersection of Moe-Rawson (Parkers Corner) road north bound.

Coopers Creek Road closed at Tyers-Thomson Valley Road

Coopers Creek Road closed at Walhalla Road