890 fires in Victoria bushfire season
890 fires inVictoria bushfire season
23 February 2007
published by www.news.com.au
Australia — About 890 fires have burned on public land during Victoria’sbushfire season.
The state is on target to record one of its worst ever bushfire seasons,in terms of the number of fires, rather than lost homes.
“It’s certainly the most number of fires we’ve have at this point in theseason,” Department of Sustainability (DSE) spokesperson Graeme Davissaid.
“We’re on track for the most number of fires in a season, but not in termsof asset loss.”
Humid and dry conditions have fuelled lightning strikes across the state, butmost commonly in Victoria’s high country, Mr Davis said.
Meanwhile, a huge firefighting effort has successfully contained abushfire that threatened homes in the Dandenongs, east of Melbourne
More than 75 firefighters battled to contain a five-hectare blaze today onFerndale Road, Sassafras, in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
“All fires in the Dandenongs have been contained,” Mr Davis said.
“We had a couple of fires at The Basin but they were very small.”
Mr Davis said earlier reports that the Dandenongs fires were the work ofarsonists were unconfirmed and experts would investigate the cause of each fire.
A team of firefighters will keep watch in the Dandenongs overnight, preventingany possible flare-ups.
Fire crews are currently patrolling about 120 fires across the state, aslightning strikes are expected to continue for another three days.
About four fires in the Kinglake National Park near Murrindindi have also beencontained today.
Another six fires across Victoria are being fought through the night bybattle-weary crews, Mr Davis said.
Victorians bid farewell this week to a large team of American firefighters,who worked closely with their Australian colleagues.
Anyone with information about any of the fires is urged to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
