State Fire Situation Report
0700 hrs Monday, 15 January 2007
abridged version
Department of
Sustainability and
Environment
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State Fire Control Objectives
Safety of personnel tasked to the incident
Protection of members of the community, including keeping the community informed
Protection of critical infrastructure and community assets
Aggressive first attack on new outbreaks
Protection of conservation and environmental values
Current Fire Activity
Overview
 Linescan missions - were run overnight by both the DSE firescan aircraft (Tatong and Booroolite Sector),
and the AMSA aircraft (Bruthen Run) and updated maps of fire boundaries are being prepared.
 Great Divide Complex South – Blacking out and patrol have continued overnight at Mt. Elizabeth. In the
Angora Range Sector fire has breached Sheep Station Tk and fallback options are being considered – and
private assets could be impacted later today.
 Great Divide Complex North – The main problem is a large spot over on the Booroolite Sector. No
active fire at Mt. Buller at present.
 Tatong fire – The fire is continuing to spread within control lines under the influence of the southerly.
Spotting activity to the north and east of the main fire continues to cause issues for crews – asset protection
is the primary focus for crews on the northern edge. Patrolling and blacking out of last night’s backburning
is continuing on the western and southern flanks.
 Hermit Mt. fire – The fire, now adjacent to the Murray River, is a concern as it is in steep terrain with very
limited access. Water bombing has been utilised to slow the fire while control lines are being prepared.
 Fire areas -The total area of current DSE/CFA Going fires is approx. 1,041,000 ha. The total area of fires
attended by DSE since 1 July 2006 is 1,145,380 hectares.
Agency
DSE
CFA
Going
4
4
Contained
68
1
Under Control
80
4
Current Fire Details
Great Divide Complex North – 368,400 ha
Managed by Mansfield IMT (DSE)
 Mt. Buller Division: The back-burning near the Howqua Gap line was successfully completed. It will be
patrolled by the CFA using DSE vehicles on Monday.
 Booroolite Sector: The large spot over is still yet to be contained. Dozers have established lines on approx 1.5
sides and will work on Monday extending lines and improving their trafficability. CFA and DSE crews will work
to strengthen lines where back burning has taken place.
 Stony Ck Sector: 400 ha spot over has been rounded up and blacked out.
Great Divide Complex South – 657,000 ha
Managed by Bairnsdale, Swifts Creek, Erica, and Heyfield IMTs(DSE)
 Crews working out of Swifts Creek are continuing to build containment lines and undertake associated backburning in the Angora Range, Brookville, Kelty and Cutts Ck Sectors where the fire activity is the greatest.
The breach in the Angora Range sector will be tackled. Fallback lines being constructed at Mt Delusion, Dingo
Ridge and Christmas Ridge Tk.
 Blacking out and patrol have continued overnight at Mt. Elizabeth. Spotfires on the western side of Mt.
Elizabeth continue to cause great concern. High humidity has limited the attempts to back burn in the Bulldog
Sector.
 Crews from Heyfield continue to track spots in the Seaton area, focussing mainly on asset protection.
Backburning will be conducted later in the day if conditions are conducive.
 Most of the area to the East of the Aberfeldy-Walhalla containment line is now burnt out. Crews are
monitoring and mopping-up.
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Tatong-Watchbox Ck Rd – 16,000 ha
Managed by CFA (from Benalla)
 The fire is continuing to spread within control lines under the influence of the southerly wind.
 Spotting activity to the north and east of the main fire continues to cause issues for crews – asset protection
is the primary focus for crews, supported by water-bombing helicopters, on the northern edge.
 Last night 8.5 km of back burning occurred on the Southern flank, leaving 5 km to finish the job. This work
is expected to be completed by lunch today. If this line does not hold 2 further fall back lines have been
identified in anticipation of the north-westerly winds on Tuesday.
Hermit Mt. – 330 ha
Managed by DSE Corryong.
 Ground crews are working to hold the fire on the Vic side of the Murray River assisted by water bombing by
NSW aircraft. The fire has a frontage of approx. 900 m along the river.
 Seven bulldozers are working and the control lines along Blue Gum and Playground Tracks are expected to be
completed by midday today.
Weather (BOM Fire Weather Outlook - Issued at 1600 hrs on Sunday 14th of January 2007)
A high-pressure system west of Victoria is moving slowly south-east and will become established over the Tasman
Sea during Monday. A low-pressure trough will move towards Victoria on Tuesday, reaching the far-west on
Tuesday night and then becoming almost stationary over Victoria on Wednesday.
Monday: The high pressure system will move over the Tasman Sea on while the low pressure trough remains over
central Victoria. Fine, mild to warm conditions are expected. Winds will be light southeast to north-easterly inland
with fresh afternoon sea breezes developing about the coast. Moisture levels should start to increase during the day
due to the easterly flow.
Tuesday: The high pressure system will remain over the Tasman Sea while a low pressure trough moves into far
western Victoria by Tuesday night. It will be generally fine although isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible
near the trough later in the west and also over the eastern ranges. Conditions will be very warm to hot with moderate
to fresh northeast to northerly winds ahead of the trough and moderate south to south-westerly winds behind the
trough. Moisture levels are expected to be relatively high although there is some uncertainty about this. Extreme fire
danger is likely.
Wednesday: The low-pressure trough is expected to be almost stationary over Victoria on Wednesday. Isolated
showers and thunderstorms are expected near the trough otherwise it will be fine. Warm to hot conditions are
expected, although it will be cooler near the coast with sea breezes. Moderate northerly winds are expected east of
the trough with moderate southerly winds to the west. .
Fire Behaviour Predictions
Fire behaviour specialists have been predicted likely fire spread of 3 ‘going’ edges (Tatong fire, Bruthen Run, W of
Walhalla) for the period late 14 Jan to late 17 Jan. These are based on forecast weather and fuel types, and assume
that no rain influences the fire area and that current or planned fire suppression efforts have no impact.
Their report and associated maps are available on the Fireweb home page, and have been emailed to all who
receive this Statewide Situation Report.
Community Safety and Information
Fire threat messages
 CFA and DSE advise that the communities of Myrrhee, Molyullah, Whitfield, Boggy Creek Valley, Burders
Road, Watchbox and Banksdale could still experience spotting and ember attack from the fire activity within
the perimeter of the fire however these will be reviewed today and possibly downgraded.
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Advice to travellers/Safety Information/new info about Roads
 Because of public safety reasons, some park and forest tracks in fire-affected areas remain closed to the
public and are being re-opened once they are declared safe. Full details on park and forest closures can be
found on www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
 The Great Alpine Road is closed between Bruthen and Swifts Creek. Full details on road closures can be
found at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
VBIL and Web
Victorian Bushfire Information Line
- 216 calls between 0800-1730 hrs Sunday 14 January. VBIL staffed from 0800-2000 hrs.
Web
- 109,580 DSE Fire and Emergency Management web page views accessed for the 24 hour period on 13 January.
- 42,338 page impressions accessed for the 13 hours from 0000 – 1300 hrs on 14 January.
Community Meetings
Fire Update, Debrief, Community and Business Recovery Meetings are planned as follows:
Monday 15 January
Wulgulmerang – 1 pm Wulgulmerang Recreation Reserve
Gelantipy – 2 pm Bush Nursing Centre
W Tree - 3 pm at S.I.B.A, (formerly Ontos)
Buchan – 5 pm at the Buchan Hall
Tuesday 16 January
Merrijig: 7 pm at the Merrijig Hall
Alpine Shire Recovery Meetings have been planned for January - further information available by contacting the
Alpine Shire on 5755 0555. All meetings will start at 11 am, followed by a BBQ lunch:
Monday 15 January: Buffalo River: 11.00 am at the Fire Station
Wednesday 17 January: Mount Beauty: 11.00 am at the Community Centre
Thursday 18 January: Bright: 11.00 am at the Community Centre
John Lloyd
State Duty Officer
Fire and Emergency Management
Department of Sustainability and Environment
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Gary Weir
State Duty Officer
Country Fire Authority