Property lost to bushfires as authorities issue health warning for smoke
At least one cottage has been destroyed by fire at Walhalla, as authorities warn of “very hazy” conditions across the state and concerns about smoke affecting air quality.
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At least one building has been destroyed by bushfires in the historic town of Walhalla in Victoria’s east, as authorities flag air quality concerns over large amounts of smoke.
Victorians have been warned of “very hazy” conditions across the state as it recovers from three significant bushfires at Grantville, Hepburn and Walhalla.
The state control centre confirmed a cottage was destroyed at Walhalla.
But Baw Baw Shire councillor Michael Leaney, who owns the Walhalla Star Hotel, said there are fears other properties may have been damaged or destroyed.
“We hope it’s only one but there may be more,” he said in a video posted to social media on Monday morning.
“We don’t hold much hope for the buildings up at Maiden Town. Given the fires roared through there I would say the buildings are likely to be lost but we won’t know that until we get people to the location.”
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Roads have been closed in the area as firefighters spend the day assessing the area, including “dangerous” fire-ravaged trees.
Cr Leaney said he was relieved to have “survived” the night.
“It’s a very different day today. We are very happy to be here and have survived the fires from last night.”
Smoke warning
Meanwhile, an emergency alert has been sent to Victorians advising them to protect themselves from smoke inhalation.
“We’re experiencing a very hazy day all around Victoria due to smoke from yesterday’s significant fire activity across the state. Make sure you know what to do to protect your health if you are likely to be impacted by smoke,” the alert said.
Bushfire smoke contains gases including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can cause damage to the body if inhaled.
Angela Korras wrote on Twitter: “Air quality in Melbourne’s south east very poor. You can see the smoke particles and smell them.”
People in smoky areas are advised to stay inside and switch their airconditioning units to “recycle” mode to reduce smoke coming into the home.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Michael Efron said smoke over Melbourne was from bushfires in Tasmania, with more smoke expected across the metropolitan area on Tuesday from the Gippsland blazes.
It comes as firefighters continue to toil to get the upper hand on scores of blazes across Victoria.
Nineteen fires were “going” — meaning they didn’t have containment lines around them — as of 1.30pm on Monday.
A total of 50 blazes, including grass and scrub fires, continued to burn across the state.
A watch and act message was still in place for one blaze at Glen Forbes southeast of Melbourne.
The bushfire remained within the Grantville Nature Conservation Reserve but residents at Adams Estate and Grantville areas were urged to keep monitoring conditions.
Watch and acts for Hepburn, Timbarra and Walhalla were earlier downgraded to advice messages.
Mr Efron says southerly winds were keeping temperatures down, which would help firefighters’ efforts.
“It’s looking better today. The overall conditions are a lot better, (there’s) certainly more moisture in the air, cooler temperatures and lighter winds as well,” he said.
The Hepburn fire
The Hepburn fire came within 500m of destroying Hepburn homes on Sunday.
Bendigo man Dominic Winspear was relaxing at the Hepburn property he was house-sitting for a friend when he spotted fire and smoke on a ridge about 1.5km away yesterday afternoon.
He spoke with neighbours who were about to leave with their baby and quickly made the decision to get out.
“I could see the flames and the smoke,” he said.
“It was a row of orange flames.
“It was a pretty intense experience, especially being so close.”
Mr Winspear packed up and headed to a friend’s house in nearby Daylesford and waited for the all-clear from authorities.
He returned to the house on Monday morning.
Firefighters will closely monitor smouldering trees and stumps, and weather conditions over coming days after declaring the Hepburn Mannings Rd fire under control.
Forest Fire Management Victoria incident controller Jon Rofe was pleased with the co-operation between ground and aerial teams, as well as the local community in avoiding catastrophe over the weekend as the fire burned out of control for two days.
He said there was “no current fire activity” just before noon on Monday and that the cooler weather this week would help the remaining crews.
“We are dealing with a number of hot spots- burning stumps and logs,” he said.
“The weather forecast for this week is quite good for our firefighters but crews will be on scene for a number of days to make the fire safe.
“It will mainly be ground crews. We will be using aircraft to provide images of any hot spots.”
No lives, homes or livestock were lost in that blaze.
Authorities were on Sundey night concerned a wind shift arriving with the cool change would enhance the fire but crews were able to keep the blaze at bay.
Mr Rolfe thanked local residents for staying aware and leaving their properties when they were told it was the best option.
“The community were keeping themselves as informed as possible,” the incident controller told the Herald Sun.
“People were really supportive of that precautionary approach.”
One road remained closed at noon on Monday but authorities were working to get reopen it within hours and return the last people back to their properties.
Authorities were planning to hold another meeting with the community on Monday evening to give them another update and field any questions.
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Earlier
Fire crews were pushed to their limits by at least 145 new blazes over the weekend and two firefighters were taken to hospital after suffering heat exhaustion from the Hepburn blaze.
Murvet McKenzie was one of the residents who fled the fire.
“It’s been an anxious time, watching the whole of Hepburn light up,” she told the Herald Sun on Sunday.
“It was a very anxious day. I am so tired and so emotional.”
She and her partner had planned to stay put and defend, but by 4am the pair were packing their bags.
“You can hear the gum trees popping and crashing to the ground,” she said.
“That’s when we left and landed on our friends’ house in Daylesford with our two cats in tow.”
Beloved family pup Bella, 15, and her owners Jean and Iain Bellamy are waiting at the relief centre in Daylesford. They left their Hepburn property about 8am this morning. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/N2k9Gtisjd
â Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) February 3, 2019
Carlton Football Club legend Robert Walls was among those affected near Hepburn Springs, telling of the sleepless night he endured as emergency crews battled to contain a fire that started on his property.
A lightning strike was blamed for the blaze which spread from his 16ha property at Elevated Plain into a dense gully that proved inaccessible for fire fighters on the ground.
At least eight aircraft dumped water on the fire.
“It’s bloody hot and it’s burned all night,” Walls said.