North East Fires Update - 19 Dcc

Great Divide North Complex

The North East Alps Fire and the Gippsland Fires have been renamed the Great Divide Fire Complex. The Great Divide Fire Complex North is 279,200 hectares and extends from the King Valley, east to Mount Buffalo, south to the headwaters of the Macalister and Wonnangatta Rivers in Gippsland and west to the Jamieson area.

Mansfield Complex

Residents in the Jamieson, Kevington, Gaffneys Creek, A1 Mine Settlement, Woods Point, Matlock, Merrijig, Sawmill Settlement, Mirimbah, Howqua Hills, Sheepyard Flat and Tobacco Flat areas, where there is still considerable fire activity within the body of the fire, will need to remain vigilant and listen to local radio.

In the Merrijig Sector, a control line has been constructed between Plain Creek Track and Carters Road that protects a historic timber tramway, and back burning will occur if conditions are favourable.

At Mt Buller yesterday, crews completed the fire retardant line on the southern boundary. Asset protection around Mt Buller Alpine Village continues.

The fire has been active south of Timbertop recently. The fire crossed to the North of the Howqua River and is threatening the Tobacco Flat, Howqua Hills and Sheepyard Flat areas. Planned backburning from Three Chain Track will now not be undertaken. Fall back control lines closer to private property in the Booroolite area are being considered.

In the Stoney Creek Sector, crews are patrolling the active fire edge, while in the Jamieson/Kevington Sector, crews previously deployed to provide asset protection will be scaled back. Response arrangements will remain in place.

The Tolmie Sector is now quiet and is under local CFA brigade patrol.

Work has been undertaken today to deepen the back burning around the township of Matlock. Fire retardant has also been used as part of asset protection.

Backburning continued along Buttercup Track, crews worked today to tie in Buttercup Track with Plains Creek Track to the Delatite River. Further back burning may occur tonight, conditions permitting.

Communities should be mindful that the back burning will generate smoke and possibly embers, while the roads in the area will be carrying increased traffic, with heavy machinery and fire crews at work.

SP AusNet will today be working south of Mansfield to re-establish the power supply and a large influx of workers and vehicles to be in the area is expected.

Community meetings are scheduled for the following locations:

19th December

Merrijig Community Hall 8.00 pm

20th December

Eurobin Fire Station 11.00 am

Merrijig Community Hall 11.00 am

Mt Hotham (venue TBA) 1.00 pm

Myrtleford Senior Citizens 2.00 pm

Goughs Bay Boat Club2.00 pm

Macs Cove Recreation Reserve 3.30 pm

Jamieson Public Hall 5.00 pm

Ovens Complex

Increased fire activity on Mount Buffalo has resulted in ember attacks in the Buckland Valley and towards Eurobin. Back burning operations immediately North East of Mount Buffalo near Nug Nug were halted due to wind conditions late yesterday and overnight.

Five bulldozers are working at the upper end of the Buckland Valley developing a break along the edge of private property, which will provide a containment line in the northern part of the Buckland Valley division.

Further Information

For information reguarding community meetings please click here

Boil Water Notice:

A boil water notice is in effect until further notice for residents in the Mt Beauty, Tawonga, Tawonga South, Whitfield, Harrietville and Simmonds Creek areas.

Residents are advised to boil water for at least one minute before drinking to prevent illness.

Road Closures

For full details on road closures in the North East visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

For information on fires in Victoria and general fire safety, please contact the VBIL on freecall 1800 240 667. Callers who are 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/firesor www.cfa.vic.gov.au