Gippsland communities on alert again over Rosedale bushfire

Two water bombers and a surveillance aircraft are tackling a massive Gippsland blaze at night in an Australian first, as police treat a remote bush shack with a water tank graffitied with the words “God is Good” as a crime scene and the fire’s origin.

A remote bush shack with a water tank graffitied with the words “God is Good” is being treated as a crime scene and origin of a massive blaze that has ravaged Gippsland townships.

The fire at Rosedale, which has burned more than 11,500ha across an 85km perimeter, started at an isolated ground 200m in bushland down a dirt track where a boat, at least two structures and what appeared to be a green water tank was stationed.

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Police are investigating the initial fire site of the Rosedale blaze. Picture: Tony Gough

Andrew Crisp, right, and MFB chief Dan Stephens get a tour of the crime scene. Picture: Tony Gough

Smoke at the Holey Plains State Park at Willung, 90 minutes before an emergency warning was issued to the township. Picture: Tony Gough

The fire, burning in parkland and pine plantation, remains out of control on Monday night but could have been much worse.

It was limited due to night aerial water bombing — the first time in Australian history that a blaze has been tackled from the sky during nightfall.

“It’s made a considerable difference to the fire fight,” Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

Two water bombers and a surveillance aircraft tackled the blaze after dark when the fire ignited on Friday, and again on Sunday.

Two water bombers and a surveillance aircraft tackle the Gippsland blaze from the air overnight for the first time in Australia.

BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS FORCED TO RETREAT FROM BLAZE

The specialised aircraft with infra-red are to be used again on Monday night as crews tried to bring the fire under control before predicted hot weather at the weekend.

Townships were again put on alert this afternoon just before 1pm, as an emergency warning was issued for the tiny town of Willung.

That warning was reduced to a watch and act about 5.30pm before being downgraded to an advice notice just after 10pm.

An advice notice remained in place for surrounding areas.

Detectives from the Wellington CIU, at Sale, are leading the criminal investigation into the blaze, supported by the Arson Squad.

Despite the active crime scene off Merton Vale Rd, police said yesterday they hadn’t yet determined the cause.

Mr Crisp said it was possible the community may never find out.

“Sometimes we will get some fires where we will just not be able to determine the cause,” he said.

The Rosedale fire yesterday. Thick smoke billows from the Holy Plains State Park. Picture: Tony Gough

The initial scene of the Rosedale blaze. Picture: Tony Gough

‘THE WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN WE EXPECTED’

On Sunday, Gippsland communities were again put on alert over a massive blaze burning at Rosedale.

The CFA issued a Watch and Act alert for the townships of Stradbroke, Stradbroke West, Willung and Willung South on Sunday afternoon as the blaze burned out of control and continued to spread.

The warning came after the fire had a day earlier been downgraded to the lowest level, an advice warning.

“The winds were stronger and more persistent to what we expected,” incident controller Peter West said.

Firefighters have been battling the blaze all weekend. Picture: Mark Stewart

He said the fire spread a further 500ha on Sunday and stretched across an 85km perimeter, while “a lot of it is still active edge”.

“We have got close to the fire but there’s still a lot of uncontrolled edge and a lot of risk so we have to manage that,” he said yesterday.

The severity of the fire saw a relief centre at Sale Baptist Church reopen to support impacted residents.

The bushfire continued to burn through Saturday. Picture: Mark Stewart

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