Vic: Rain brings relief to Mt Buller and fire-ravaged areas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2006
Vic: Rain brings relief to Mt Buller and fire-ravaged areas

By Julie Tullberg

MELBOURNE, Dec 23 AAP - A dramatic change of weather has stopped three bushfires in
their tracks as they approached almost 100 people stuck on Mount Buller.

A wind shift, with gusts almost dying out, has stopped fire raging towards Mt Buller's
skifields this morning.

About 50 firefighters are backing up resort teams to help save valuable assets on the
mountain top, which includes trendy ski resorts amid bare ski slopes hungry for a white
Christmas.

A Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) spokeswoman said about 30 alpine
resort staff had chosen to defend assets and were "stuck" on the mountain.

Yesterday, fire authorities closed Mount Buller Road to all traffic as several burnt-out
trees fell across the roads, blocking access to the mountain top.

And winds up to 120km/h fanned three fires approaching Mt Buller's summit before the
weather changed.

When up to 10mm of rain fell at Mt Buller, resort staff were counting their blessings,
knowing their fortunes had changed.

"The winds aren't strong anymore," the spokeswoman said. "The smoke has cleared because
of a wind shift to the south-west. The fire activity is very quiet."

Meanwhile, fire fighters are patrolling the danger zone, watching out for embers and
fresh outbreaks.

But the spokeswoman said the more favourable conditions meant crews could try to clear
the alpine road, ensuring all Buller personnel could leave the mountain safely.

Fire crews have had to escape the danger zone on helicopters as Mt Buller service staff
support the weary firefighters.

Meanwhile, alerts for Howqua River Road, Sheepyard Flat, Tobacco Flat, Howqua Hills
and Sawmill Settlement have been withdrawn.

"The Mansfield incident management team will review risks overnight in the vicinity
of this fire, and provide further advice in the morning," North East Fire Centre co-ordinator
Tom Sloan said.

"Whilst rain fell throughout much of the Mansfield district, there were some areas
that have still only received very low rain falls.

"Residents in the Woods Point area will need to remain alert to the fact that, although
the fire danger is now relatively low, the fire in the vicinity of the town will continue
to create a threat that must be carefully monitored over the next few days."

Walhalla has enjoyed good rainfall, helping a reduced fire risk to their properties.

But residents are advised the road is still closed/

The north Gippsland goldmining town of Walhalla surrendered its historic three-span
bridge to fire yesterday.

The township, renowned for its historic railway and goldmining heritage, has been under
ember attack for days, and residents will be forced to seek refuge in an old goldmine
if the flames ravage their town.

The fires are expected to devastate the tourist trade in Walhalla.

Bushfires in Victoria's Gippsland area have burnt more than 830,000 hectares of bush,
destroyed more than 30 homes and taken one life.

AAP jat/rs

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC DAYLEAD

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