Anxious wait of Saturday scorcher: Strike teams prepare for Saturday

CFA volunteers are preparing once again to stamp out spot fires that emerged from the Grampians on Saturday.

About 8000 hectares across 40 properties has been burnt out by the Grampians fires, with the loss of about 1000 sheep and more than 200kms of fencing.

CFA volunteers are resting up after spending most of their Christmas week fighting the Grampians fires, while keeping a weather eye on the horizon.

The BoM is forecasting temperatures will rise to 38 degrees at Stawell on Saturday on the back of northerly winds dragging central Australian heat into the region.

By 2pm the wind is set to start swinging around from the west, forcing firefighters to once again guard against embers breaking out of the Grampians and starting spot fires to the east.

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent has warned the Grampians fires are likely to burn for weeks, putting added strain on CFA volunteers and their communities.

Across the state volunteers, ACFOs and commanders responded to 349 incidents on Boxing Day, including 80 grass fires, once again proving the value of the service’s surge capacity.

All up 1300 personnel and 253 vehicles fought the Grampians fires, with another 94 firefighters and 16 vehicles fighting another fire at the Gurdies, while 95 volunteers and 21 appliances brought the Bullengarook fire under control.

Grampians Stawell CFA captain and farmer Malcolm Nicholson said he other volunteers were resting up after relief teams were brought in from further afield on Friday.

“Our (Stawell) group ran nine strike teams, with four trucks on each team and 60 members working through,” Mr Nicholson said. “By Boxing Day we’d had enough.”

He said strike teams would probably be called up again on Saturday, to once again suppress fires spotting out to the east of the Grampians.

In the meantime backburning operations were being undertaken this week across the Sundial peak to help protect Halls Gap, as well as along the eastern side of the Grampians.

Willaura farmer Matt Burmeister said half of his farm had burnt, with about 20km of fencing to rebuild.

His farm has 4000 composite breeding ewes and 100 Angus cattle for commercial beef.

He managed to sell his lambs in early December.

“We were really well-prepared,” he said.

“We had a practice run on the Friday prior with our stock management, all our breeding ewes were in containment, our cattle were on safe ground.

“As a family, my sons and I own the old Willaura brigade truck and we were able to put out 21,000 litres of water over the six-hour period.”

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy, whose electorate covers the Grampians, called on the state and federal government to buy an aircrane, which she said could make a real difference this summer.

Emergency Management Victoria is still waiting for US aircranes to be delivered.

Emergency Management Victoria has put in a request with US authorities for two aircranes, which can carry 10,000 litres, which a spokeswoman said “are now on their way to Victoria after completing their service period in North America and will be in place shortly”.

“Three additional aircraft are part of the Victoria’s core fleet until the Aircranes are in place, and these contracts can be extended if required.

“Approximately 70 aircraft – including the National Large Air Tanker and other national assets – were available across the state throughout the elevated risk period over Christmas.”

Situation reports have also started coming in on the extent of the damage to rural properties at Moyston, Wullaura and Glenthompson, where about 1000 sheep were lost and 8000ha burnt out across about 40 properties.

Many farmers are now seeking help from BlazeAid to clean up and replace fencing, while Ararat City Council is co-ordinating fodder deliveries and can be contacted on [phone].

2Part of the Grampians blaze as seen by CFA crews in the Pomonal area. Picture CFA / Facebook.