01 February 2003

BushfiresRaging in Southeast Australia

Pixel Size 1 km
(0,7 Mb) Pixel Size 250m (8,1 Mb)

This true-color ModerateResolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from the Aqua satellite on February 01,2003, shows the fires in southeastern Australia marked with red dots.

Bushfires Raging in Southeast Australia

A break in the weather has given firefighters in southeast Australia a much-needed hand as January winds to a close. After weeks of battling scores of fires in the remote and often inaccessible terrain of the Great Dividing Range Mountains of southeastern New South Wales and northeastern Victoria, firefighters were handed a little rain, calmer winds, and a drop in temperatures.

More than a million acres of have been scorched by the blazes, and this false-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Terra satellite on January 31, 2003, shows the extent of the burned area. Vegetation is bright green, burned areas are red or reddish-brown, and areas of naturally low vegetation (or bare soil) are tan. Active fires are marked with red dots. Smoke is blue.

Source: OSEI/NOAA

Latest satellite images: Bushfires Raging in Southeast Australia

31 January 2003

1 February 2003

Fragmentsof the BIRD 3.8µm channel image showing the area of Canberra obtained on31 January and 1 February.
Source: German Aerospace Center. BIRD website: http://spacesensors.dlr.de/SE/bird/index.html
The left-hand box contains two radiative temperature scales: a) a grey levelscale for pixel averaged background temperatures and b) a coloured scale forpixel averaged temperatures which are higher than the background temperaturesand are indicating hot spots.

This false-color image shows the resulting concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) at an altitude of roughly 3 km (700 millibars) in the atmosphere over Australia and New Zealand. Data taken by the Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument aboard NASAs Terra satellite have been combined for 6 days from January 15-20, 2003. The colors represent the mixing ratios of carbon monoxide in the air, given in parts per billion by volume. In this scene, values range from as high as 250 ppbv (purple pixels) to as low as 50 ppbv (blue pixels). The white areas show where no data were collected, either due to persistent cloud cover or gaps between satellite viewing swaths.

Carbon monoxide is produced as a result of incomplete combustion during burning processes, and is important due to its impact on chemistry in the lower atmosphere. It is a good indicator of atmospheric pollution, and its presence adversely affects the atmosphere’s ability to cleanse itself. Because carbon monoxide is persistent for several weeks, it clearly shows the propagation of pollution plumes from the region of the Australian fires out thousands of kilometers into the usually pristine atmosphere of the southern Pacific Ocean. The distribution of pollution over Australia corresponds closely with satellite observed aerosol emitted by the fires as observed by TOMS.

CSARADARSAT-1 Disaster Watch
Thefollowing requests were acquired under the MCS Disaster Watch:

NewSouth Wales – Victoria, Bushfires, Australia (2 images):

26 Jan 2003 19:05:22 UTC; S7-16; cycle 109 orbit 262.59977 duration 0.00862; OBR: -GSS
27 Jan 2003 09:00:47 UTC; S5-16; cycle 109 orbit 270.89112 duration 0.00862; OBR: -GSS

For moreinformation see: https://gfmc.online/emergency/radarsat.htm

RADARSATcontact:
CSARADARSAT-1 Disaster Watch
c/o: SatelliteOperations
CanadianSpace Agency
e-mail: dwreports@space.gc.ca

This false-color map of theworld shows an aerosol index produced from data collected by the Total ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) on30 January 2003.The large cluster of fires in Australia in southern New South Wales is easily identified by the large area of red. The aerosol plume clearly affects a larger area than it seems to in true-color imagery. This is because the TOMS aerosol index uses observations collected in the ultraviolet (UV) part of the spectrum. Aerosols that appear transparent in true-color imagery can be revealed by UV analysis. The principle is similar to certain “invisible” magic markers that produce writing that can only be seen under special UV (“black”) lights.

Source: Total ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS)

Fire Weather Forecast for the Pacific Region

Fire Weather Index for the
Pacific Region for tomorrow.
(Source: ECPCFire Weather Index Forecast)

Overview Australia

Australian fire conditions ease
31 January, 2003, 09:22 GMT

A firefighter tries to control a blaze in Katoomba, west of Sydney, Australia
Some firefighters have not stopped for six weeks
Extreme weather conditions have eased overnight in southern Australia, giving firefighters battling bushfires there a much needed break.

More than 80 fires are still burning across the states of Victoria and New South Wales, but few homes are threatened.

Temperatures which soared past 40C (104F) on Thursday have cooled to around 30C (86F), winds have dropped and light rain has fallen in some areas. The better conditions are expected to last over the weekend.

Seven people have died and hundreds have been injured in the blazes – triggered by hot weather and the worst drought in a century – which have been raging across the south east for the past three weeks.

Much-needed break

“The rain and the cool change last night has knocked things on the head,” a fire services spokesman in northern Victoria, Paul Mansfield, told the Associated Press news agency.

Many of the 3,500 firefighters who were working in New South Wales on Thursday were sent home on Friday for a rest, Rural Fire Service spokesman John Winter said.

Thursday was one of the most difficult days for the fire authorities since the bush fires began.

Fires forced the evacuation of up to a dozen villages in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. Mr Winter said fires there were not moving so fast on Thursday, and the ski resort of Jindabyne was no longer in jeopardy.

More than 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of land and 600 houses have been burned in the fires. The most damage was incurred in a firestorm in the federal capital, Canberra, on 18 January.

There alone losses caused by the damage has been estimated at to A$250m ($150m).

Source: BBC

NEW SOUTH WALES:

Total Fire Ban for 01February 2003

The Commissioner of the NSW RuralFire Service has declared a Total Fire Ban in the following Weather ForecastDistricts:

Central Western Plains, Central West Slopes

The weather forecast for this area is very high temperature, low humidity andmoderate to strong winds. These conditions are conducive to fire activity andthe community is urged to take particular care. Fire danger in this area will beextreme or approaching extreme.

The Total Fire Ban will become effective for the 24 hours from MIDNIGHT TONIGHT,Friday, January 31, 2003 until MIDNIGHT Saturday, 1 February 2002.
During a Total Fire Ban no fire of any kind may be lit in the open. Thisincludes incinerators and barbecues, which burn solid fuel, e.g. wood orcharcoal.
You may use a gas or electric barbecue, but only if

· It is on residential property within 20m of the house or dwelling;

· It is under the direct control of a responsible adult;

· The ground around the barbecue is cleared for 3m of all material which couldburn;

· You have a continuous supply of running water.

A map identifying the boundaries of weather districts can be found on the Bureauof Meteorology web site at http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/dist_map.shtml.

Statewide Fire Update for Friday, 31 January 2003

The skills of NSWs firefighters were proven yesterday with no majorproperty losses reported despite atrocious fire weather which included 40 degreeheat and winds gusting around 80kph.
Assessments of property loss continue in the Jindabyne area, however, noconfirmed losses have been recorded so far.
Extreme fire danger weather caused fires in NSWs southeast to breakcontainment lines and threaten communities and new outbreaks in the BlueMountains and Gosford to concern homes also.
Those threats have eased today with milder temperatures and lighter windconditions being experienced across most firegrounds.

Kosciuszko National Park
The fire ran 40km east of Jindabyne under yesterdays severe conditions andthreatened several areas of the town, causing voluntary evacuations.
Fire authorities continue to assess damage today, however, not home losses arereported as yet. Conditions are calm and are expected to continue for the nextfour or five days, giving firefighters welcome respite and an opportunity towork on containment lines.
There is still an extensive area of uncontained fire in the area and while thethreat to homes has eased for the moment the firefighting campaign will continueto be conducted in the area for some time.
Firefighters threw all resources at fires closing on communities in the worstaffected areas, especially in the Alpine Way, Barry Way and Paupong areas.
Extremely strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures caused numerous spotfires right across the fire front.

ACT – Yarrowlumla
Increased fire activity saw breaches of containemt lines in many sectors of theYarrowlumla fireground. Light rain oon the ifreground last night and mildconditions today are assisting firefighting operations.
The northeast sector of the McIntyres Hut fire broke out into grassland but isnow contained. A spotfire fron the northeast sector is now contained.
In the southeast sector of the fire, spotfires have occurred over the MonaroHighway, however, the spotfires east of the highway and west of Michelago havebeen contained. Crews worked on directly attacking the fire overnight. Directattack strategies are taking place around Michelago.

Yass
The fire burning in the Black Andrew Nature Reserve broke its containment lineyesterday and ran to the southwest. Crews worked on property protection and thefire was held on the ridge west of Wee Jasper. Todays crews will continueproperty protection for properties on the north and west of Wee Jasper andcontainment strategies on the southeastern side of the fire.
No houses were lost and a private pine plantation to northwest has beenpartially damaged.

Blue Mountains
The fire threat to properties in North Katoomba has eased with milder conditionsthis morning. The fire started west of the Explorers Tree and entered the NorthKatoomba catchment area, causing spotting in North Katoomba streets, and hasburned 250ha.
Concerns were held for property in Mort St, North St and Whetton Rd. Selfevacuees were gathering at the Civic Centre in Katoomba last night. There are noconfirmed property losses. This section of the fire was contained with abackburn put in place overnight from Mort St to the dam. This saved the powerand water supply to the Katoomba area.
Backburning was also conducted at Foy and Delamont Streets Medlow Bath andPulpit Hill.
The Great Western Highway and railway line will be closed until at least 9am.
Aerial reconnaissance and infrared scanning this morning will identify if thefire has moved into the Megalong and Jamison Valleys.

Woy Woy
A fire began around Nagari Rd Woy Woy South, moved south towards the Woy WoyWaste Disposal Depot yesterday afternoon and is currently active on a ridgeabove Timbertop Dr. No properties are directly affected.
The fire moved approximately 1 km south overnight along the main ridge systemwest of Umina Heights. Today crews have finished constructing a handtool linelinking Van Dahls Firetrail and the Old Sanitary Depot and another between TheSantuary to Timbertop Dr. A dozer is currently working on a fallback linebetween Van Dahls Firetrain and the Sanitary Depot and a backburn is now beingput in place along this line to protect the southwestern corner of the fire.Waterbombing is being undertaken in the southern section to enable crews tocomplete a backburn and is also being undertaken on the western flank to preventspotting to the west of the Tip sector.
About 100 firefighters from RFS, NSW Fire Brigade and NPWS are working in thearea.

Kyogle
Volunteer fire fighters, along with National Parks and Wildlife Service,continue their battle to establish containment lines around a fire burningthrough the Border Ranges National Park.
The fire has now burnt out approximately 700 hectares of World Heritage listedNational Park, to the North West of Kyogle in the Saw Pitt creek area.
At present the fire is burning through very inaccessible terrain, howeverfingers of the main fire are slowly making their way down into private propertyand open country where containment lines can be established.
Meantime, a fire, which has been burning in the Richmond Range area, nearToonumbar, remains contained, with fire crews continuing to patrol and mop upthe fire perimeter.
Weather over coming days is forecast to be still warm and dry is hopedfire-fighting crews will be able to gain the upper hand on the fire and initiatecontainment lines where possible.
Inspector Matt Inwood said Fire fighters certainly have a battle on theirhands containing this fire, as it is burning in mountainous terrain, surroundedby escarpments.
There is no property is under direct threat, however the fire is making itsway into grazing country on private land.
With dry weather still predicted over coming weeks, land owners and occupiersacross the north coast are being urged to ensure their properties are kept tidyand fire safe.

Evans Head
A fire which began on the Broadwater Evans Head Rd and is burning in theBroadwater National Park is not currently threatening homes.
Containment lines immediately north east of Evans Head were being establishedwith backburning, however, damp conditions this morning were hampering progress.
The fire was first reported at 9.45pm last night. Northerly winds are blanketingEvans Head in smoke, however, fire activity is generally calmer this morning.
Forty firefighters from the RFS and NPWS in 10 tankers are working on the fire.

Harden
A fire destroyed about 50ha of mature grapes and stone fruit trees at a vineyard12km northwest of Harden yesterday.
The fire was contained by over 60 firefighters in 18 RFS tankers, 15 NSW FireBrigades tankers and bulldozers and graders. They were supported by council bulkwater tanker and one fixed wing aircraft.
The fire burned between 1500 and 2000ha and was fanned by winds in excess of60kph in 44 degree heat.
Crews battled to protect property throughout the afternoon and are blacking outand felling dangerous trees in the area today.
Losses include a picker’s hut, a dwelling on the eastern side of the property,about 100 sheep, 50km of fencing, vineyard trellis and irrigation systems, andrailway infrastructure.

Waterfall Derailment
Local RFS cres assisted at the Waterfall deraiment site to transport casualtiesto the triage post. All casualties have now been removed from the site of theincident.

For more information (Please note thisis for MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY): DutyMedia Officer 02 9898 1855

Websites: www.npws.nsw.gov.au or www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

Weather: Bureau of meteorologywebsite with educational material about bushfires which may be useful for themedia for background material: www.bom.gov.au/inside/services_policy/fireag/bushfire/bushfire.htm

Radio: Listen to Radio 2XL, Snowy Mountains FM and ABC Bega

Source: NSW Rural FireService

VICTORIA:

Fire crews continue to battle blazes in north-east Vic
1 Feb 2003 19:46 AEDT

Backburning will continue overnight and tomorrow in Victoria’s north-east, as fire crews continue to battle blazes in the region.

The situation in the area has eased ahead of extreme weather conditions predicted mid week.

Heavy smoke in the region is continuing to hamper firefighters’ efforts to tackle the blazes from the air.

They expect aircraft to be grounded until at least Tuesday.

Ovens Incident controller Ian Christie says the weather forecast includes some showers for the region but it will make little impact.

“That won’t be sufficient to really put an end to this campaign,” Mr Christie said.

Emergency Services Minister Andre Haermeyer and Chief Police Commissioner Christine Nixon visited the area today and were given a briefing on the status of the blazes by local fire crews in Ovens.

They have congratulated all those involved in battling the fires which have been burning for more than three weeks.

Communities on high alert as Snowy River fire jumps into Vic

A fire that has jumped the Snowy River from New South Wales into Victoria is causing some headaches for fire crews.

A spokesman for the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, Ian Miles, says remote communities in the Deddick Valley in north-east Victoria are on high alert.

“We are trying to build a 50-kilometre break on the eastern side of the fire that goes from southernpart of New South Wales across the border into Victoria into that Deddick Valley,” Mr Miles said.

Source: ABC news

Statewide Update 31 January 2003

Gippsland Fires Update 31 Jan 2:30pm
Information for the local community and visitors to Gippsland and theNorth-East about going fires and the control measures being used in Gippsland.
The Bogong Complex fires have joined the Pinnabar fire to the northeast and theMt Buffalo fire to the west. The combined fire has now burned more than 400,000hectares.
Yesterday’s extreme conditions caused spot fires to spread well ahead of themain fire fronts, causing problems in areas around Gelantipy, Wulgulmerang andSuggan Buggan.
Homes were lost in Omeo and Seldom Seen, while stock and other losses are stillbeing assessed in many areas.
Fires are now burning on both sides of the Snowy River at McKillop’s Bridge,Mount McKay and in a logging coupe near Bendoc.
Fires are burning in the Alpine National Park west of Wulgulmerang and north ofSuggan Buggan.
Clearer skies this morning are making life easier for assessments of the currentfire situation to be made.
The next step is to try to determine which outbreaks are the most urgent andattempt to contain any further spread.
The cool change which arrived yesterday brought welcome rain to many parts ofGippsland, with cooler conditions forecast for at least the next few days beforethe weather heats up again mid next week.
While the rain won’t extinguish the fires, it should give firefighters a chanceto consolidate control lines. But the first priority is to assess the currentstate of the fires from the ground and the air.
Among the resources now allocated to the Gippsland fires is an EricssonAircrane, which is being used today to tackle fires in the Gelantipy area.

How will it affect you?
Residents in high risk communities are reminded to enact their fire plans now toprotect themselves and their properties. Make the decision about whether toleave, or to stay and defend your property in plenty of time.
The more decisions you make now about what to take and what to leave behind, thequicker you will be able to move if the time comes to do so.
It should also be remembered that communications can be disrupted infire-affected areas. This means people in more isolated areas may not be able tobe individually contacted in the event of a serious outbreak.
This makes planning ahead all the more important for your safety and that ofyour livestock and other assets.
The Omeo Oval remains the designated refuge area for residents in the Omeo andBenambra areas. For residents in the Swifts Creek and Cassilis area, the SwiftsCreek Secondary

College is your
designated refuge area and for Ensay residents, the Ensay Hall or Bruthen Hallif preferred. For Buchan residents, the Buchan Recreation Reserve is yourdesignated refuge area.
Other Emergency Refuge Centres are: Tubbut Hall, Bonang Hall, Delegate RiverTavern, Karoondah Park, Gelantipy.
If people are going to move livestock, they need to do it well before the fireapproaches while the road access is OK.
Trying to move your stock after the event will be difficult as roads may beunsafe.
Residents are urged to call the Gippsland Community Fire Information line on1800 668 066 to report stock losses and to get help with the care or humanedestruction of injured stock.
DPI Vets and Animal Health Officers are available to assist with these tasks.
DPI and East Gippsland Shire are coordinating burial pits for affectedlandholders. This is a free service, please call 1800 668 066 for assistance.
If you leave your home or town you are requested to inform the Australian RedCross staff at your local refuge area, who are keeping track of all movementsduring the fires for safety reasons
If you have already registered but you then change your plans it is important toinform the Red Cross. Also, if you leave your vehicle at a staging area theyshould be informed.

Road closures:
The Great Alpine Road north of Bruthen is closed to all vehicles exceptemergency vehicles and local traffic
Omeo Highway between Omeo and Mitta Mitta
Great Alpine Road north of Omeo
Benambra-Corryong road, between Omeo and Corryong
Benambra Road between Uplands and Colac Colac
Benambra-Suggan Buggan Road (Limestone-Black Mountain Road)
Bogong High Plains Road between Falls Creek and Omeo Highway
Dargo High Plains Road between Dargo & Mt Hotham
Gelantipy Road, north of Buchan
Snowy River Road
McKillops Tourist Road
Cabandra Road
Dellicknora Road
Benambra-Limestone Road
Dargo Road just north of Dargo
Lower Dargo Road
No public access to Bogong High Plains, Bogong Village, Mount Hotham Village andFalls Creek

Safety Messages
Stay tuned at home and in your car to local stations (ABC Regional Radio on100.7 FM or 720 on AM band, 3HCR, High Country Radio on 97.3, 3TR on 99.9FM,Cooma 2XL on 92.1FM, ABC Bega on 810AM)
…and keep listening for fire location information, spread of fires and weatherconditions to monitor your local situation so you have an up to date snapshot ofwhat is happening.

Community Meetings:
Friday 31 January: Newmerella Recreation Reserve, 7.00pm
Friday 31 January: Clifton Creek Community Hall, 7.30pm
Friday 31 January: Bullamwaal Hall, 7.30pm
Sunday 2 February: Mount Taylor Hall, 7.30pm

Futher assistance
Telephone Help
Telstra Country Wide is offering free call diversion for people affected by thebushfires.
This allows you to receive all calls to your home phone to another phone, eitherfixed or mobile.
If you have suffered loss of property and no longer have access to your usualphone service, please call 1300 134 239.
For other enquiries, call Telstra Country Wide on 1800 687 829.
Counselling and Support Services
Family & Personal Counselling support (based in Bairnsdale) can also beaccessed through our fire information line, 1800 668 066

Mt Buffalo and Bogong West Fire Update 31 Jan 2:30pm
Information for the local community about Mt. Buffalo and Bogong Westcomplex fire, and measures implemented to control these fires.Yesterday’srainfall across the fire area has had a significant impact on the firesituation. Between 1mm and 5mm, and up to 20mm of rain fell across some of thehigher areas of the region, with the biggest falls high in the mountains (24mmat Mt Hotham). Although the rain has greatly helped to reduce the fire risk, itwas not enough to fully extinguish the fire. It will also interrupt some of thebackburning operations planned for today. Subsequently, DS&E and CFAresources will concentrate on direct attack as close to the fire edge as theycan today. Some fire crews worked shorter shifts last night and took awell-earned rest as calm, clear conditions prevail over the fire area. Residentsin the vicinity of all fires are reminded to remain vigilant over the nextcouple of days, although the rain and calmer weather conditions have reduced thefire threat for all communities in the area. Mild weather conditions, followingyesterday afternoon’s late change, have allowed fire crews to rest and preparefor more work today to consolidate works.

Road Closures:
People are urged not to drive on any roads in the vicinity of the fires unlessabsolutely necessary.

Mt Buffalo Road at Porepunkah Ranger’s Station
Buckland Valley Road at Porepunkah
Bogong High Plains Road is closed at Mt Beauty and there is no public access toBogong Village, Falls Creek and the Bogong High Plains (may be opened by lateThursday)
Omeo Highway between Omeo and Mitta Mitta
Great Alpine Road between Harrietville and Omeo with no public access to the MtHotham Village
Buffalo River Road south of Merriang South
Dandongadale Road from Dandongadale to Lake Buffalo
Simmonds Creek Road at the end of private property (Open to residents only)
Tawonga Gap Track, east of Tawonga Gap
Bakers Gully Road from the end of the sealed road
Wandiligong Road south of Wandiligong
Lake Buffalo Road (across the lake) is now closed. An emergency vehicle onlyaccess track to Long Corner Creek Road is available for Fire traffic includingTankers and 4WDs
The cross over at the Buffalo Dam Wall is currently under traffic managementcontrol. There is a by-pass track. Public are advised to observe speed limitsand traffic management controls.

Track closures:
Selwyn Track, Tea Tree Range Track, West Buffalo Track, Wonnagatta Valley Track,Zeeka Spur Track, Wombat Spur Track, Riley’s Creek Track, Australian AlpsWalking Track NE of Mt Howitt

For updates contact the Victoria Police Information Line on 1800 444 343

Messages for Communities:
Driving in hazardous conditions
Many ‘near misses’ have been reported so please remember that you and otherdrivers may be experiencing poor visibility from smoke, exhaustion, distractionsand oncoming Emergency vehicles.

Make sure you wear your seat belt at all times, obey the speed limit and watchout for emergency vehicles. Remember you and other drivers are probably tired sodrive with exceptional care.

If you have made the decision to stay and protect your home stick to that plan.A late evacuation is a deadly option.

If caught on the road:
Always U turn to safety if you have the option but if you are caught on the roadyour car offers the best protection from radiant heat as the fire front passes
Do not get out and run!
Pull to the side of the road into a clear area – dirt track or road is best
Try not to park the car in a place where it is surrounded by fuel for the fire
Put the hazard lights and headlights on and keep the engine running
Cover exposed skin as much as possible with clothing (not synthetic)
Ensure windows are up and vents closed
Get down as low as possible below window level as radiant heat travels throughglass.
Cover up with a woollen blanket until the fire front passes. (If travelling inthe country always carry woollen blankets in your car for this purpose)
You will feel a reduction in the heat and then it is time to get out a move tosafety.

Further information and resources:
Victoria Police Information hotline (road closures) 1800 444 343
Parks Victoria Hotline 13 19 63
CFA Community Hotline 1800 240 667
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) website
DSECommunity Updates – available for Upper Murray, Ovens and Kiewa Valley,Gippsland, Beechworth and Bogong fires. Detailed reports, produced daily.
NSW RuralFire Service website
…and stay tuned to your local radio stations: ABC radio FM 106.5, 91.7 or89.7, EDGE FM /3NE radio, Mt Beauty & Myrtleford FM 90.1, Mt Hotham FM 89.3,
Buffalo FM 99.1

Alpine Fires Update 31 Jan 11:00am
Saturday February 1st 2003 7am (Day 25) Statewide Alpine Fires Update

Current Summary

· Despite the milder weather conditions yesterday and overnight, fire crews were kept busy last night containing spotfires and determining the location of lightning strikes in the Tubbut, Bonang and Cann River areas where fire is burning after extensive spotting and lightning activity on Thursday evening. Today more aircraft and crews will be deployed to locate and contain these small fires, some of which are burning in remote areas to the east of the main fire.

· In Gippsland last night fire crews worked hard to contain outbreaks from the main fires on Thursday in areas around McKillops Bridge, Swifts Creek and also to the east of Benambra.

· The consistent hard work by fire crews and residents of the North East is to be praised with property damage yesterday and overnight kept to a minimum. Outbreaks as a result of Thursday’s severe fire activity in some areas have increased total losses since the start of the fire to 33 houses. For further information on damage to private property and assets, please phone the CFA on 13 15 99 or 1800 240 667.

· To date, the Alpine fires have now burnt approximately 520,000 hectares of Victorian parks and forests.

· Although there has been an abatement of fire activity in the main fire area, the fire situation is expected to intensify once again over the coming days and residents are advised to maintain their preparedness levels.

Current Going Fires

· The main Bogong North complex, incorporating the Mt Buffalo fire, has now burnt over 282,000 hectares and is still burning strongly despite the milder weather experienced yesterday and last night. Fire crews were able to conduct limited backburning operations in preparation for next week’s predicted hot weather.

· The Bogong South fire complex fire also continues to remain active and has now burnt over 232,000 hectares. Damper weather impeded backburning operations in some areas yesterday. The spot fires and lightning strikes outside of the main fire, continue to be attacked east of the Barry Way.

Weather in the Alpine Area

Today: Mostly sunny day with moderate winds tending southerly during the day. Temperatures in the
low to mid 20s.
Sunday: Fine day, mild to warm with winds tending easterly then northerly. Temperatures in the low
30s.

Resources on the alpine fires

Personnel currently involved:-
– Around 1770 from the Government agencies
– approximately 1,500 CFA from outside the Region (supporting local volunteer brigades)
– 120 Army
– 116 South Australian
– 130 NSW Rural Fire Service
– 68 QLD Fire & Rescue
– 33 New Zealand
– 3 personnel from NSW and 1 from QLD Fire Services
– 22 USA (21 firefighters and 1 infra-red specialist)

Over 30 aircraft including a Navy Sea King and an Army Iroquois Helicopter, over 250 specialised vehicles and 83 bulldozers.

Agencies involved

The Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Parks Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, local plantation company brigades, forest industry crews and equipment, Victoria Police, Red Cross, Rural Ambulance Victoria, St John’s Ambulance, the Army Reserve, the Australian Navy, State Emergency Service, WICEN (Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network), local municipalities, New Zealand fire and conservation agencies, South Australian Country Fire Service and Parks Service, NSW Rural Fire Service and State Forests, QLD Fire and Rescue Service and several US fire agencies.

Community Information

Community meetings continue to be held throughout the region. More than 4,000 people have now attended these. A community meeting is scheduled for today in Granya (Granya Hall) at 11am. The meetings are designed to assist local residents and visitors to the area with the current fire situation, and to put in place on-going community networks. Further community meetings will occur as necessary and will be advised locally.

Liaison between local shires/DSE/DPI/CFA/PV and Victoria Police continues on a regular basis, as does liaison with NSW fire agencies. Local Community Updates continue to be circulated on a regular basis.

The DSE website (www.nre.vic.gov.au) is being regularly updated with fire information, including community newsletters and maps.

Fire Statistics

Victoria has around 7.7 million hectares of parks and forests. In an average summer around 620 wildfires occur and these burn around 110, 000 hectares. To date this season 675 fires have occurred. These have burnt over 757,000 hectares. The 20-year average for this time of year is 357 fires, having burnt over 49, 000 hectares.

Further information and resources
Information hotlines for residents in the Towong Shire (02) 6071 5100 and theAlpine Shire 5755 0524
Victoria Police Information hotline (road closures) 1800 444 343
Parks Victoria Hotline 13 19 63
CFA Community Hotline 1800 240 667
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) website
DSECommunity Updates – available for Upper Murray, Ovens and Kiewa Valley,Gippsland, Beechworth and Bogong fires. Detailed reports, produced daily.
NSW RuralFire Service website
…and stay tuned to your local radio station.

Latest Fire Maps 31 Jan 9am

North East Fire Maps .

Overview Map- (jpeg approx 200kb)
Closerview of North East Fires – (jpeg approx 200kb)
Hiresolution PDF file of Fires (can zoom in on this map) – LargeDownload* (pdf size from 2 to 3Mb)

Further Information:
CSIRO also provide online mapping of the fires situation at http://www.sentinel.csiro.au
Note – this map is hosted on the Land Victoria website.

Websites
Department of Sustainability and Environment for more detailed information
Community Updates on the DS&E website are alsoavailable

Actual Fire Situation Maps,Victoria
An actual fire situation map can be found directly at:
http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/fires/updates/report/index.htm

Source: http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/

TASMANIA:

Bush Fire
01 February 2003,
Guy Fawkes Hill [Meehan Range]
Mount Rumney Road, Mount Rumney

At approx 1138 hours today the Tasmania Fire Service received multiple calls to a bush fire at the top of Mount Rumney. The fire is one of a series of undetermined fires that have occurred in the Mount Rumney / Acton Hills area over the past few weeks.

Approximately 30 hectares has been burnt with twenty-five (25) firefighters and six (6) fire service units working to prevent the fire from spreading.Weather conditions are allowing firefighters to conduct back burning operations to tie in all control lines and fire edges.

SHED FIRE
31 January 2003,

At 0228 hours this morning, the Tasmania Fire Service was alerted to a shed fire at 440 Mersey Main Road, Tarleton.
Devonport Fire Brigade responded with 2 units and 7 firefighters. On arrival, it was found that a shed at the rear of a dwelling was fully involved in fire and threatening the adjacent dwelling.

Prompt actions by firefighters prevented the spread of fire to the dwelling. Damage has been estimated at $10,000.The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.

Source: Tasmania Fire Service (TFS)

QUEENSLAND

New fire bans in StatesSouth-East
31 January 2003

RECORD low rainfall in January and expected high fire danger in the coming days,has prompted the introduction of local fire bans for the States south-eastarea. (Local fire ban information below).From midnight, bans will be in placefor the local government areas of Brisbane City, Redland, Pine Rivers,Caboolture, Caloundra, Maroochy and Noosa. Already fire bans are in force forthe areas of Beaudesert, Boonah, Esk, Gatton, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Laidley,Logan, Cooloola, Hervey Bay, Kilcoy, Kilkivan, Kingaroy, Maryborough, Murgon,Nanango, Tiaro, Wondai and Woocoo. Most areas of the States south-east arebetween 500mm and a metre below average rainfall and some areas receivedvirtually no rain in January traditionally one of the wettest months of theyear. Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson today urgedall residents in ‘at risk’ areas to take precautions. The fire risk situationis unusual for this time of the year and the gale force winds and highertemperatures predicted for the days ahead do not augur well for firefighters,he said. Usually January-February are among our quieter months for grass andbushfires, but not so this year. Mr Johnson also urged anyone seeing anyoneacting suspiciously around bush and grassland areas to take particular attentionand report this to police if any fires do start. Already this financial yearQueensland firefighters have responded to more than 10,000 grass and bushfiresin the first seven months of the financial year. Up until the close of businessyesterday (January 30), fire crews had responded to 10,895 grass and bushfiressince July 1.

The Local Fire Bans prohibit the lighting of all fires, with the followingexceptions:

1. Fires within a properly constructed barbecue are permitted, provided they arenot left unattended. (Gas and electric barbecues may be used).
2. Fires for the purpose of disposal of animal carcasses are permitted, subjectto the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by the local Fire Warden.
3. Fires of commercial necessity are permitted subject to the issue of a Permitto Light Fire by the Rural Fire Service District Inspector.
4. Fires lit for the purpose of burning standing sugar cane for harvest inaccordance with the established practice of the industry.
5. Fires lit for the purpose of burning sugar cane tops and harvesting trashbetween the hours of 1800 (6.00pm) and 0900 (9.00am).

Anyone wanting more information about fire risk, permits or general bushfiresafety should contact their local rural brigade or fire station or visit eitherthe Rural Fire Service website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or the QFRS websiteat www.fire.qld.gov.au
For Media: Contact: Sarah McCormack, QFRS Media on 3247 8084 or 0416 167 421

Source: Qld -fire-service

GFMC Note
With letters directed to the A.C.T. Bushfire Service and the CFA Victoria on 26January 2003 the GFMC has offered liaison with Russia for the deployment ofIL-76 air tankers to assist the Australian authorities in fire suppression.

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24. November 2017/by GFMCadmin