Click for current Total Fire Bans across Victoria.
Fire Information
• PAGE INDEX
Fire contact numbers and websites
Fire update and state overview
High country re-openings
Road closures
Tourist safety information
Power supply
Water - Goulburn Valley Water - Rainwater tanks - Town water supplies
Key safety messages
The Fire Triangle
Injured or orphaned wildlife
Campfire information
"Important Fire Safety Information" - page 1 - page 2
"Radiant heat - the killer in a bushfire" - page 1 - page 2 - page 3
"Wildfire Action Planner" - page 1 - page 2
Building in a bushfire prone area
• FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FIRES:
• Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) -
Telephone: 1800 240 667 - toll free.
For hearing or speech impaired people telephone: TTY 1800 240 667 - toll free.
• For up-to-date fire information on the web:
CFA - www.cfa.vic.gov.au
CFA - current fires and incidents
DSE - www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires
• Listen for more up-to-date information on the radio:
Local ABC radio - in Mansfield tune to 103.7
Mansfield Community Radio (MCR) - 99.7 FM
UG FM, Alexandra - 106.9 FM
• FIRE UPDATE
Fires
Members of the public are asked to dial 000 to report any new fires. Please be aware that smoke may be from fuel reduction burns.
Fuel Reduction Burns
Many DSE fuel reduction burns have been carried out over the last few weeks. This program will continue whenever the weather conditions allow.
People can expect to see and smell smoke from burns.
Fuel reduction burning is vital in reducing bushfire risk. Fuel reduction burns do not prevent bushfires, but they do greatly increase the chance of controlling a fire in the early stages and minimising asset losses. Fuel reduction burns are carefully planned and conducted within prescriptions that are dependent on the weather. This is to ensure that they are safely undertaken and to minimise the chance of the fire spreading beyond control lines. As parts of the state are still very dry, the opportunities for conducting fuel reduction burns are re-assessed on a daily basis.
Fire restrictions have been lifted in some shires. For more information visit Fire Restrictions.
ROADS, TRACKS, PARKS AND FORESTS INFORMATION
When planning trips to fire-affected areas, check weather forecasts, Total Fire Ban declarations and access restrictions to public land affected by fire.
Many roads and tracks in fire-affected areas remain closed as they are not yet safe. DSE, Parks Victoria, VicRoads and Victoria Police are constantly reviewing road closures, and open them as soon as they are declared safe.
DSE and CFA advise that travellers, campers and bushwalkers MUST obey all road and track closures in all fire-affected areas. Failure to obey these signs endangers both visitors and fire crews.
Visit the Parks Victoria website for detailed information about access to park and forest areas affected by the fires in the east of the State, or call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 19 63.
Details of other road closures can be found at the VicRoads website, or by calling the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
• HIGH COUNTRY - REOPENINGS
The following roads and many parks and forest areas in the Alpine area and Gippsland are now open as listed below:
- Upper Goulburn – Comet Flat, Doctor’s Creek, Granny’s Flat, Knockwood Reserve, Scotts Reserve, Skipworth Reserve, Snakes Reserve, Tunnel Bend Reserve, Twelve Mile Reserve and Woods Point.
- Mansfield State Forest - Running Creek Reserve
Roads
- Mt Stirling Road
- Circuit Road
- Summit Track
- Clear Hills Track
- Road No. 3
- Carters Road
- Corn Hill Track
- Clear Hills Track
- Howqua Track - Buller Road to Sheepyard Flat
- Howqua Hills Track - Sheepyard Flat to Wares Flat (but NOT to Steiner`s Rd)
- Brocks Road - Sheepyard Flat to 8 Mile Gap
Camping Areas
- Howqua Hills Historic Area including - Tobacco Flat, Frys Flat, Sheepyard Flat, Davons Flat, Pickerings Flat, Noonan’s Flat, Tunnel Bend Flat
- All camping areas in the Upper Goulburn Area and Granny’s Flat and Running Creek.
- Please note: The Alpine National Park Access is closed from Tunnel Bend Flat. Campers advised to bring their own drinking water due to siltation and ash in rivers.
Day Visitor Areas
- Powers Lookout
- Paradise Falls
Walking Tracks
- Howqua Feeder Track – From Running Creek to 6 mile (Alpine National Park)
- Eagles Peaks Walking Track – From Sheepyard Flat to 8 Mile Gap
- All ski trails and walking tracks on Mt Buller and Mt Stirling
- Howqua Hills Heritage Track – From Sheepyard Flat to Frys Flat
• Mt Stirling re-opened to the public - 21st February, 2007
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• ROAD CLOSURES: No current alerts
• For road closures information go to:
www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
Please observe all road closures – they are there to protect you! Drive with your headlights on as smoke haze is, at times, intense.
NO CAMPING in many areas – check with the Mansfield Visitor
Information Centre 1800 039 049 or Parks Victoria www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.
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• TOURIST SAFETY INFORMATION
DSE and CFA are reminding visitors to observe road and park closures.
Some visitors to fire affected areas are disobeying road closure signs, going into fire affected areas which are still dangerous and putting themselves at risk. Roads are closed for a reason.
After a fire, tracks need to be inspected for safety and works undertaken to remove dangerous trees. Firefighting vehicles and heavy machinery are also using the tracks for firefighting and backburning on a 24 hour basis.
Don’t put your family or friends at risk by travelling into fire affected areas that are
closed to the public.
If you don’t need to be there, please stay out.
• Parks Victoria - Bushfire Information & Road/Track Closures
For information on national park and forest access, visitors are advised to check with the
Mansfield Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 049 and Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 19 63 or visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.
• For information on Mt Buller and Mt Stirling:
http://www.mtbuller.com.au
The Resort Management phone will be manned from 8:30 am – 10:00 pm on a daily basis throughout the fire period – (03) 5777 6077. Please call Resort Management for information about the status of the mountain rather than contacting ‘000’ with queries that are not related to direct fire emergencies.
• POWER SUPPLY
From SP AusNet - http://www.sp-ausnet.com.au
- For bushfire updates:
http://www.sp-ausnet.com.au/CA256FE40020993B/page/Media%20Centre-Bushfire%20Updates?OpenDocument&1=040-Media+Centre~&2=10-Bushfire+Updates~&3=~
Power Supply - alternative sources
***Because of hot weather demands on the power supply state-wide, and the fact the fires can be burning in the proximity of major power lines, residents relying solely on electricity for pumps and other essential equipment are urged to consider alternative sources in case of possible cuts to power supply.
In preparation for fire we have a number of safety tips that we ask you take into account. These are:
- Have torches, battery operated radios and mobile phones handy and fully charged.
- Have extra supplies of batteries
- Water pressure may be affected
- Power may not be restored for some time depending on damage and access issues
If you notice fallen lines do not approach them, report them to us on 131 799
Keep the faults hotline number handy and report hazards immediately.
If power is out and you have information that may assist us in the restoration of supply please use the faults hotline number 131 799
If your power supply is lost please note it could be some time until power is restored, for more information on restoration and if you have any information that may assist us in the restoration of supply please call 131 799.
Please stay tuned to ABC radio for information regarding the return of
electricity. Power crews are presently attending the area to rectify
the situation but advise that not all of the affected areas may return
to full supply immediately.
Residents are advised that cordless phones will not work during a power outage, however landline phones are working in all affected areas.
Residents are also advised that this outage means electric pumps and
sprinklers will not work. Householders need to have static water
supplies placed around the house. Supplies can include wheelie bins,
baths, tubs, stock troughs, etc. Take care of young children and ensure their safety around this water.
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• WATER SUPPLY
• Goulburn Valley Water is committed to providing ongoing potable water supply to consumers.
• Rainwater Tanks
Residents relying on rainwater tanks for their water supply should be aware that with ash and smoke from the fires, their water may be unpalatable after rainfall. Tank owners should divert the first wash of rainwater after a long dry period, and the likelihood of ash on the roof makes this practice even more sensible.
The diverted water should not be wasted and could be caught and stored for fire protection, or used on the garden. Diverting water from the tank can be done by an automated system, by manually turning the discharge pipe away from the tank inlet, or opening a valve or cap to allow the release of the water within the pipe-work.
If your tank water tastes or smells unusual, or is cloudy, has an unusual colour or contains particles, assume it is contaminated and drink bottled water until the ash has settled.
Town Water Supplies
North East Water has advised that storms in the bushfire-affected catchments can cause ash and sediment to enter waterways, preventing offtake of clean water supplies for affected towns.
Until the dirty water passes, towns may need to cut back on consumption or boil water until the Water Authority can recommence diversion of clear water into their storages.
Residents are requested to keep alert for announcements via radio, newspapers or television should emergency actions need to be activated.
For further questions, please contact North East Water on 1300 361 622.
• KEY SAFETY MESSAGES:
People who intend to stay need to ensure that they:
- Are physically and mentally prepared to defend their home;
- Have a comprehensive plan, reliable water supply and fire fighting
equipment;
- Have an adequate cleared space around their house;
If residents do not have these things in place, given the expected
extreme fire conditions, they should leave well before the fire threatens their local area.
As the front of the fire approaches, it will become unsafe to be either on foot or in a car as the heat radiating from the fire will be intense. Residents should avoid being exposed to radiant heat at all costs, and should make use of structures like their homes to shelter as the fire front passes. Residents should wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, sturdy boots and a broad brimmed hat. On no account should synthetic material be worn.
The Police ask that due to the low visibility caused by the smoke please drive with your headlights on and do not speed. Don't forget to turn your lights off again when you park.
Make sure you have a battery-powered radio to access information in case of a power outage in your area.
• THE FIRE TRIANGLE
For a fire to burn it needs fuel, oxygen and heat - take any one of these three things and there is no fire.
Therefore - don't stack fuel (wood, drums of chemicals, rubbish) against or under your house,
- take away heat with water
- take oxygen away by smothering with a woollen blanket or foam from an extinguisher etc.
• Watch polythene and plastic pipes, hoses and pumps - if they melt with the heat of the fire then you have no water.
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• INJURED OR ORPHANED WILDLIFE
Have you found any injured or orphaned wildlife?
* Call Kingbilli Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Refuge & Rehabilitation Centre, on (03) 5774 7242 - 24 hours/day.
http://www.kingbilli.com.au/
* Wildlife Victoria - http://avoca.vicnet.net.au/~wildnet -
WildLine 0500 540 000 - 24-hour emergency telephone service for people needing help with injured, sick or orphaned wildlife.
* Wildlife Rescue and Information Network (Vic) - www.wrin.asn.au
- 0419 356 433 - 24 hours state wide emergency hotline.
* Help for wildlife - www.helpforwildlife.com - 0417 380 687 - 24 hour state wide emergency service.
Injured animals or birds can be aggressive - they will definitely be stressed - do not handle more than is absolutely necessary.
Keep the animal (particularly pouch young) warm, quiet and in darkness - when picking up, cover with a cloth or blanket, scoop it up gently and firmly and place it in a cardboard box or other suitable container. Please do not put the animal in the boot of your car. Do not attempt to feed or give any type of fluids.
Call immediately for assistace - help and advice is only a phone call away.
Check the pouch. Pouch young do survive and can live for many days after their mother's death. It may be necessary to cut the mother's pouch in order to retrieve the orphan. Take great care in removing the orphan if it is attached to its mother's teat - young marsupials grow firmly attached to their mother's teat and considerable damage can occur to the mouth area if care is not taken.
Remember -
Warmth, quiet, darkness, minimal handling, no food or water unless advised by a wildlife carer.
Residents can place containers of water above ground in a safe and shady area to assist stressed wildlife in fire-affected areas.
Car Animal Rescue Kit:
Scissors
Flannelette pillowcase
Several woolen jumpers
Hot water bottle
Cardboard box or washing basket.
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• GO WITHOUT A CAMPFIRE THIS SUMMER 2008/09
- CAMPFIRE INFORMATION
If you choose to have a campfire, you must:
- take extra care to build the fire properly
- look after it constantly
- ensure that the fire is put out properly - with water, not soil - even if you are only going for a short walk or swim.
Key points to remember:
- before you light a fire, think about whether you really need the fire and the risk it presents
- if a fire is cool to touch, it is safe to leave
- put the fire out with water, not soil
- keep the campfire just big enough for cooking, or use other cooking applicances, such as a portable gas stove
- use a constructed fireplace where provided, or light the fire in a 30-centimetre-deep trench to prevent embers from flying out
- create a perimeter around the fire using rocks
- clear three metres of ground and air space of flammable material, such as leaves and twigs
- never, ever leave a fire unattended, even for a short while
- you should take the same precautions when using appliances with naked flames such as gas stoves, as they can be blown over by winds and cause fires
And remember, bonfires must not be lit anywhere. Firstly it's illegal and, given the state of fires, the dryness of the bush and grasslands locally, it's a recipe for disaster.
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• BUILDING IN A BUSHFIRE PRONE AREA
http://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=424
The 2006/07 bushfires in Mansfield Shire clearly highlighted the importance of building and positioning your home to reduce its vulnerability to fire. To protect individuals and your assets you are encouraged to give consideration to the fire safety features that can be incorporated into your home.
Areas that should be considered are the general location, site features and the attributes of the building. Further details regarding these matters can be found by accessing the Wildfire Management Overlay document and the Australian Building Standard 3959 document.
Council strongly encourages all applicants to consider the voluntary inclusion of such safety features within their redevelopment.
http://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/files/Building_in_a_wildfire_management_overlay.pdf
http://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/files/Australian_Building_Standard_3959.pdf
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