Great Ocean Road fires expected to rage for weeks

UPDATE: FIREFIGHTERS are working frantically to make Wye River and Separation Creek safe for residents to return, but no time frame has yet been set.

• Analysis: How a bushfire burnt Christmas Day
• Wye River in ruins while Lorne has lucky escape
• Fire victims prepare to visit properties
• Lorne back in business, but heed warnings
• Victoria fire alerts: Key events

FIREFIGHTERS are working frantically to make Wye River and Separation Creek safe for residents to return, but no time frame has yet been set.

Falling trees, solar power lines and potential asbestos exposure means the work is hazardous and slow going.

So far the fires have spread across five towns in the southwest and razed at least 116 homes.

The 2200ha Jamieson Track fire destroyed 98 homes in Wye River and 18 in Separation Creek as it swept through bushland and began to ­advance toward the town of Lorne on Christmas Day.

Watch and act warnings remain in place around the Lorne area as the most destructive blazes in Victoria since Black Saturday in 2009 continue to burn.

39C is forecast for New Year’s Eve with authorities meeting to plan a course of action.

Watch and act warnings are in place for Wye River, Separation Creek, Lorne, Allenvale, Kennett River and Grey River areas.

One house in Wye River which had been saved by firefighters while buildings beside it burned was later crushed by a falling tree.

DELWP crew leader Alex Shilton said it could be weeks before the area was made safe.

“The key focus is the trees,” Mr Shilton said.

A house destroyed near Wye River. Picture: Jason Sammon

This AM I was briefed on plans for a hot New Years. Forecast is 39°C for NYE, and @vicemergency are getting ready. pic.twitter.com/tkHpwykLgn

— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) December 27, 2015

“Many of the large trees are fire affected, so there’s been a fair bit of challenging work trying to get those trees down safely and get them off the road.”

“Many trees come down quickly, but that can go on for some time.”

“All of yesterday we heard trees just crashing down around us.”

“It’s fairly complicated.”

Mr Shilton said the destruction had brought residents to tears.

“There residents being shown through at the moment to see what has happened to their property, and perhaps get a little bit of closure if they’ve lost their houses.”

“The couple I’ve seen directly have been pretty choked up about it, understandably.”

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said strong winds had fanned the fires, which were likely to go on for some time.

“This fire doesn’t go away,” Mr Lapsley said.

“We move back into very hot weather, particularly in northern Victoria, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.”

The Christmas blazes saw:

FOUR coastal towns evacuated including Wye River, Separation Creek, Kennett River and Grey River;

THREE firefighters injured and 116 homes lost;

RESIDENTS finally able to return to their homes in Lorne Saturday morning;

THE Insurance Council of Australia declared the bushfires a catastrophe, estimating initial losses of $25 million.

EMERGENCY grants of up to $1300 were paid to evacuated households, with the State Government promising further assistance of up to $32,500 for those left homeless.

Remnants of a car destroyed by the fire. Picture: Jason Sammon

Premier Daniel Andrews praised the effort of emergency services who had been working around the clock to battle the blaze, as well as people who had opened up their homes to support those who had been evacuated or lost their homes.

“This is one of those times when the very worst of circumstances brings out the very best in our state,” Mr Andrews said.

The blaze originally started from lightning on the evening of December 19.

Now 500 firefighters, 60 tankers, 13 aircraft and 29 dozers were still fighting the fire last night.

Mr Andrews said authorities would communicate with people who had lost their homes over the next 24 hours.

The blaze was stopped by CFA crews about 500m short of Kennett River. Mr Andrews said more properties could have been lost.

A helicopter dumps water as the fire rages behind. Picture: Tina Garrett

He praised the work of emergency services personnel for avoiding any injuries or loss of life yesterday.

Fire authorities said hot weather was forecast for New Year’s Eve but the winds were not predicted to cause extreme conditions.

Locals were left to count the cost yesterday including a CFA volunteer who watched his Wye River home burn as he tried to protect the town.

Tony Maly made the “gut-wrenching” phone call from the fire front to his wife Lesley yesterday morning to tell her their home was destroyed.

Meanwhile, the CFA warned there were still a number of hazardous burnt trees that could be dangerous.

Septic systems may have been damaged and leakage from these systems could pose a health hazard.

Blazes still a threat

COMBATING the devastating Lorne bushfire could take “weeks and weeks”, with some residents still uncertain whether their homes had survived.

Incident controller Alistair Drayton told hundreds of concerned residents at Cumberland Lorne Resort they were still assessing the safety of the Wye River township.

“It’s going to take weeks and weeks to combat this one,” he said.

A perished home still smouldering. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Drayton said they had not secured a containment line to the west of the fire and was concerned conditions could worsen when the temperature rises in the coming days.

He said Wye River residents would not be let into the fire zone due to safety ­concerns.

“The power is off but (fallen) solar power live wires are a danger,” he said.

Asbestos from burned old homes and falling gum trees were also a concern.

DPI workers clear burnt trees at Separation Creek. Picture: David Crosling

Separation Creek residents were told they would be escorted by the Red Cross to view their homes last night.

They would be told prior if their home had burned down.

“We want to reassure tonight that we are here for you,” Mr Drayton said.

Many residents raised concerns about an influx of tourists to Lorne in the New Year.

One man said he was concerned that foreign tourists were unknowingly entering the fire ground because they could not understand the road signs in place.

Mr Drayton said the emergency management team had dropped off information booklets at Melbourne Airport hire car companies to alert tourists of the danger.

Residents gather at a community meeting in Lorne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Others were concerned more people would visit Lorne for Falls Festival next week.

Event organisers announced last night the popular music event had been relocated to Torquay.

While Lorne was spared the fire storm, the town feared big tourism losses could add to the devastation for locals.

The fire had a dramatic effect on visitor numbers in town with the main street virtually deserted yesterday.

The foreshore caravan park, usually packed with holiday-makers, was deserted.

It was the same situation throughout the tourist town, usually teeming with visitors.