100209 Beech Worth Fire Newsletter Finalpm (2) 21289

Community Update Newsletter Tuesday 10th February 2009 The Beechworth Fire started at approx 18:00 hrs on Saturday 7 February 2009 on Buckland Gap Road. Current estimates put the area burnt at approximately 30,000 hectares. The actual fire perimeter is estimated at approximately 280 kilometres. This Beechworth Fire was one of 400 fires burning across the State on Saturday. Tragically two people lost their lives in the initial run of the fire. Losses to date include 15 houses and just under 2,000 hectares of pine plantation. Community meetings have been held at Baranduda, Yackandandah, Bright and Eskdale. Meetings were well received with attendances well in excess of 500 people at most of these meetings.

NEWS FROM THE FIREGROUND • Backburning work has been planned for tonight. Residents in the Beechworth, Murmungee, Kancoona, Kancoona South, Glen Creek, Mudgeegonga, Dederang, Stanley may see smoke from backburning within containment lines around Mt Jack, Gluepot Track and a pine plantation near Stanley and near the Flagstaff Range. • The threat message concerning the Beechworth Fire in the Dederang area has been downgraded. Previously reported fire activity at around 18:00 hrs on 9 February 2009 has been contained and conditions remain reasonably quiet at the moment. • Residents of Dederang, Gundowring, Gundowring Upper, Glen Creek, Kergunyah South, Mudgeegonga and Running Creek need to remain alert due to the level of fire activity still in the area. • Late afternoon winds and a low humidity saw a run of fire into the Kiewa valley near Mt Jack on Monday. • Resources tasked to the Beechworth fire today included:

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approximately 514 personnel from CFA, DSE, ACT (95), NSW Forrest (13), NSW Parks (21), Hancock Plantations (48)
54 Tankers
36 Slip On Units
10 Forward Command Vehicles
3 Mobile Command Vehicles
9 Bull dozers
2 Graders
3 Bulk Water Carriers
2 Foam Units
2 Helicopters including the Sky Crane

Community Meeting Tomorrow Wednesday 11 February 2009 Beechworth: 10:30am at the Town Hall, Ford Street Myrtleford: 1.00pm at the Savoy Club on the Great Alpine Road

RELIEF CENTRES: are up and running in the following areas: • Indigo Shire – Chiltern Memorial Hall in Conness St, Chiltern • Alpine Shire – Senior Citizens Centre, Smith St, Myrtleford. CURRENT ROAD CLOSURES & OPENINGS • Buckland Gap Rd at Tully Rd • Buckland Gap Rd at Great Alpine Road • Myrtleford Yack Rd at Morrisons Lane • Great Alpine Road at Happy Valley Rd • Kiewa Valley Hwy at Tawonga Gap Rd • Yackandandah Dederang Rd at Kinchington Rd • Kiewa Valley Hwy at Yackandandah Dederang Rd • Gundowring Rd at Boyd Rd • Stanley Rd at Silver Creek Rd • Yackandandah Myrtleford Rd at Back Creek Rd

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Community Update Newsletter Tuesday 10th February 2009 Road closures are due to be reviewed. Information will be provided as it comes to hand.

DANGEROUS TREE WARNING

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Indigo Shire Council hotlineNumbers for recovery, rebuilding, health advice etc. Call – Free call 1300 365 003 or 5728 8000

Residents within the fire areas are reminded that there are still a significant number of falling trees and branches within the fire area. “Dangerous” tree clearing by work crews will continue as a high priority but trees will continue to fall for several few weeks.

Alpine Shire Council hotlineNumbers for recovery, rebuilding, health advice etc. Call - 5755 0555 (BH) or 5755 0513 (BH)

TELSTRA:

For general fire information, please call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 (free call), or the CFA website (www.cfa.vic.gov.au) or the DSE website (www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires ).

Can set up a phone divert to a mobile if your home has been damaged/destroyed by the fires. Contact Telstra for details 13 22 03.

For more information on this fire, contact the Ovens Incident Control Centre on Ph (03) 5731 1222

Freecall Telstra phones have been provided for those at the relief centres.

ANIMAL WELFARE: HELP FOR WILDFIRE Injured wildlife can be left with trained wildlife carers who specialise in injuries or burns. Call 0417 380 687

WEATHER FORECAST Tuesday:. Isolated showers. Winds S-SE av.1525kph, Seymour Min 10 Max 22 Wangaratta Min 9 Max 26

IMPORTANT CONTACTS & WEBSITES: Department of Human Services – For issues relating to health and welfare - 1300 650 172 www.dhs.vic.gov.au Department of Primary Industry – For issues relating to agriculture, livestock, animal welfare - 136 186 - www.dpi.vic.gov.au VICROADS - 13 11 70 www.vicroads.vic.gov.au road closures/ traffic hazard reporting service Red Cross - Co-ordinates and registers evacuees. Call 1800 727 077 to check on the welfare of friends and relatives.

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