250 lightning strikes spark more fires in northeast as Grampians remains on edge

A cluster of six fires were started across the Whitfield and Tatong areas as Grampians firefighters rest up after yesterday’s battle.

Firefighters at a briefing outside the Glenthompson fire station as they prepare to defend the town from potential spotfires on Thursday.

Lightning strikes have started “multiple” fires in Victoria’s North East as cooler weather brings relief to CFA crews fighting spot fires breaking out the Grampians.

Forest Fire Management Victoria crews have descended on the Whitfield, Cheshunt and Tatong areas south of Wangaratta on the fresh outbreaks, which at this stage are contained to relatively small areas.

Three of the six small fires have been contained.

Rappel firefighters based at Ovens were deployed on Friday, along with 40 forest firefighters, dozers and firebombing aircraft.

Crews’ initial focus will be constructing containment lines around the fires ahead of rising temperatures forecast from Monday.

Three of the six small fires have been contained.

FFMV Ovens district manager Jarrod Hayse said the cool change accompanied by a band of dry lightning from Benalla through to Dargo hit the region early Friday.

“All of them are difficult to access fires,” he said.

“The issue is the underlying dryness.

“Even though we’ve got milder temperatures today the fuel is still dry.

“We’ve had over 12 months of very dry conditions.”

About 250 lightning strikes were detected across the state when the cool change came through.

Meanwhile back at the Grampians Stawell CFA captain and farmer Malcolm Nicholson said local crews were resting up as relief teams were brought in from further afield on Friday.

“This is the eleventh day of this shit show,” he said.

While cooler conditions have brought relief, Mr Nicholson said the Pomonal community was still on edge, given it’s the second time this year they have faced a major bushfire.

Further south the Stawell group of brigades spent much of yesterday fighting a finger of fire that whipped out of the Grampians on the back of embers carried out of the forest on gusty westerly winds.

“It travelled at about 2.5 to 3 km/h through the grass, running east towards Willaura,” he said.

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said all emergency warnings had now been downgraded to watch and act, with residents from Pomonal, Moyston and Willaura likely to be given the all clear to return home on Friday afternoon.

Commissioner Nugent said the forecast was for stable weather for the next week, but warned the Grampians fire was likely to burn for weeks.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said the Allan Government had made personal hardship grants of $340 per child and $680 per adult available.

Emergency Victoria image showing Grampians fire breaking out to the east.