Bushfire could burn for weeks as property losses mount
An out-of-control bushfire that has destroyed at least one home in Victoria’s west could burn for weeks as the threat passes for another near a popular tourist route.
The blaze at Kadnook near the border with South Australia was one of about 80 that ignited in hot conditions on Saturday.
It is still burning at watch-and-act level on Monday, with residents in the warning area told it is not safe to return.
West Wimmera Shire mayor Bruce Meyer said the fire started in a private bluegum plantation as people gathered for the nearby Edenhope show, and moved rapidly.
“That might burn for several weeks yet,” he told ABC TV.
Strike teams are heading to the area to fight the blaze on Monday and Tuesday and relive exhausted fire crews.
Their efforts will be boosted by improved conditions after some rain fell in the area on Sunday before winds picked up again.
“It’s quite still at the moment and it’s quite calm,” Mr Meyer said.
“So that will give them a chance to hopefully put in some safety breaks and make the situation a lot safer.”
The fire has claimed one home and authorities believe two others may have been burnt down, on top of stock and agricultural losses.
Mr Meyer said two sheds, kilometres of fencing, water tanks and troughs had been lost but it was still too early to assess the scale of the damage.
“The conditions there are too dangerous,” he said.
“On the fire ground, it’s just control the fire is the priority at the moment.”
Another major fire along the Great Ocean Road, a major tourist drawcard in the state’s southwest, is no longer considered a threat to local communities.
The blaze at Chapple Vale has ripped through about at least 700 hectares and led to the evacuation of campers and hikers from Otway National Park.
While it is still burning out of control, a watch and act warning for the fire was downgraded on Monday morning as firefighters slowed the spread.
“There is currently no threat to you,” an alert read.
Senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said fire conditions were generally easing across the country.
“Most areas are only seeing moderate fire dangers over the next few days,” she said.
“That said, we do still have high fire dangers forecast today for northwestern parts of Victoria, parts of Tasmania’s east coast and about the western slopes of the NSW ranges.”
The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe weather warning for damaging, locally destructive winds and heavy rainfall for parts of Victoria’a southwest coast and northeast.
Mt Hotham recorded 88mm of rain from 9am Sunday to 6am Monday, while wind gusts of 144km/h (Mt Hotham), 131km/h (Mt Buller) and 124km/h (Falls Creek) were experienced in the Victorian alps.
There were almost 500 requests for assistance to the State Emergency Service from Saturday midnight to 9am Monday morning, including more than 300 for downed trees and 120 for building damage.
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