A BAND of lightning that crossed Western Victoria on Monday night started multiple fires in the district including in the Grampians at Yarram Gap and Mirranatwa that has burnt more than 7600 hectares so far with a coordinated response by emergency services from far and wide.
Residents of Mirranatwa and Victoria Valley were on high alert and were asked to leave their properties on Wednesday when the warning was upgraded from watch and act, to leave immediately.
Roads into the area were closed to the public and campgrounds were evacuated.
Yarram Gap Road was closed from Grampians Road in Mafeking to Moyston-Willaura Road in Willaura.
Victoria Valley Road was also closed between Dunkeld and Mirranatwa.
Mirranatwa resident, Iris Field elected to stay at her property.
“The direction is to leave but it’s really not that dangerous yet,” she said.
“It’s all to do with which way the wind blows and today (Thursday) is a mild day.
“A few people have had fences and grass burnt.
“Some people have moved stock.
“The graders have put in containment lines so we’re just waiting and hoping that it will burn back on itself.
“The volunteer teams are just amazing as usual – the fire brigades – the number of planes going over – we’re all so grateful – it’s just amazing the effort that people are putting in.
“As far as I know most of the locals have stayed. “We’re remembering the fires of 2006 – it’s similar but different.
“My admiration is for all the volunteers – they’re brilliant.”
She said brigades had come a long distance to fight the fires.
“I saw a Ballarat truck yesterday,” Mrs Field said.
“I do know one house was saved in the bush – it’s somebody’s retreat.”
Victoria Valley resident, Rhonda Crawford also received the warning to be prepared to leave.
“It’s alright today (Thursday) – it’s settled down a bit.
“It was started by lightning on Monday – the CFA and forest fire rescue and the planes are doing a great job.
“They fill up at Hamilton – they worked to about half past 10 last night (Wednesday) – there was a bit of activity.
“We moved some stock just as a precaution.
“It was coming out of the bush and onto the land, but they got onto it quick.
“I got a suitcase ready, a change of clothes, medication and phone charger.
“It did come along the mountain a bit closer – (but) we’ve been keeping an eye on it.
“The worry is if it gets hotter and if the wind comes from the north it will bring it back down here.
“You can certainly smell the smoke.”
Horsham Incident Control Centre incident controller, Mark Gunning said a number of fires were started from Apsley in the west right through to the Grampians.
“Crews have been working to treat those fires,” he said.
“We’ve been working on the fire down Yarram Gap Road which is west of Willaura.
“Fire crews are working there with heavy equipment and we also have aircraft bombing overnight into tomorrow (Thursday) – this fire needs to be treated seriously.
“Residents to the east of Yarram Gap Road need to prepare their properties now.
“You need to have a plan, you need to know what to do.”
The Australian Red Cross emergency service volunteers were on standby at the Sterling Place Dunkeld Community Centre.
Dunkeld resident and volunteer for Red Cross, Heather Macgugan said they were ready to offer food and refreshments to the community.
“We’re mainly here to offer psychological first aid to members of the public that have been evacuated.
“It’s a bit quiet at the moment but we’re here just in case.”
At the Victoria Valley Public Hall was a contingency of paid firefighters from Forest Fire Management (FFM) ready to build containment lines.
Cavendish FFM divisional commander, Adam Glenn who was briefing crews on Thursday morning, said there was a strong contingency to consolidate efforts.
“We’re going from what was a lot smaller footprint to what has doubled in size yesterday,” he said.
“It’s now about consolidating our work to make sure we can keep it contained.
“I’ve still got two other task forces coming in - we’re having briefings to all the different organisations and getting the machines running.
“It’s a lot of reconnaissance work through the range a bit further north from here (Mirranatwa) – there’s machinery doing fall back lines, graders, dozers, all sorts.”
He said it wasn’t so much about being on the hoses but more about building containment lines.
“It’s more about finding out where things finished up overnight and starting from there.”
Also at the Victoria Valley Public Hall was a Life Aid team on hand to offer paramedic and first aid services to volunteers, firefighting crews and members of the community during the fires and the recovery if required.
CFA District 5 Commander Rainer Kiessling said the CFA had been actively supporting FFM crews at the Yarram Gap fire.
“CFA crews were successful in stopping the fire going into farmland yesterday (Wednesday),” he said.
“We sent four strike teams and 10 additional trucks to support FFM crews.
“We remained on site with an additional two strike teams and are continuing support in Mirranatwa.
“We expect (the fire) to continue burning for a number of weeks.”
He said the CFA was working with the local community to develop action plans in Dunkeld, Victoria Valley, Glenthompson and Strathmore.
“Concerned residents should refer to the Vic Emergency app and the CFA website for updates,” Commander Kiessling said.
A meeting to brief the community was held Thursday evening at the Sterling Place Dunkeld Community Centre with police, CFA and shire representatives addressing attendees with an emphasis on being prepared over the coming weeks.
