‘From flood to fires’: Locals anxious as firefighters race to tame blaze ahead of heatwave

Tue, 7 Mar 2023 18:24:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/firefighters-battle-raging-flowerdale-grassfire-in-tricky-terrain-20230222-p5cmfv.html>

"Fire authorities hope they can tame an out-of-control grass fire in central
Victoria on Thursday before a heatwave brings soaring temperatures and
heightened fire risk to the state.

Victoria Police said arson squad detectives had arrested and quizzed a
71-year-old local man on Wednesday over the blaze, which is believed to have
started near Spring Valley Road, Flowerdale, about 95 kilometres north of
Melbourne.

Helped by strong wind, the fire has spread to cover about 700 hectares since
Tuesday afternoon, destroying cars, farm sheds and livestock, damaging one
house and reviving traumatic memories for a community scarred by the Black
Saturday bushfires.

Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said close to 100
firefighters and aerial water bombers had made gains against the fire
overnight, and warnings for local communities were downgraded to “watch and
act” on Wednesday.

He said crews would work in challenging conditions to try to control the fire
on Thursday before hot and windy condition arrived on Friday, but urged
residents to stay alert.

“Should winds change … there is always that chance that the fire could take off
and spread again,” he said."

Via The Guardian.

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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