Fire and flood warning for Gippsland

Three years since the Black Summer bushfires, parts of Victoria have been hit by early season fires, with flood warnings issued in East Gippsland.

Livestock producers in Victoria’s east are on alert as early-season bushfires burn through bushland in East Gippsland.

At time of writing, emergency warnings were in place for Briagolong and neighbouring regions, Stockade, Seacombe and Loch Sport.

But with a forecast for late afternoon rain, many producers were calm and collected in the face of the fires, with flood warnings issued for the Latrobe River, Thomson River and Macalister River.

Nutrien Yarram livestock agent Ben Greenwood said he had a number of clients with livestock in affected regions, but no major damage to farms had been reported.

“Most of (the fire damage) is in the bush still,” Mr Greenwood said.

“There’s been a little, minor damage at the edge of properties. We’re just monitoring the situation. The wind has caused a little havoc.”

With dry local conditions and a depressed livestock market, Mr Greenwood said sentiment was “pretty ordinary” heading into a summer of potential bushfire risk.

“We’ve had a significant dry spell, and everyone’s looking at today’s forecast with bated breath.”

Fire trucks travelling in convoy to fight a bushfire in Briagolong. Picture: Facebook

Mawarra Genetics stud principal Deanne Sykes said the fires were notably early.

While her Longford property was not affected by the fires, she said many producers were surprised by how quickly the season had dried off.

Bushfires near Erica and Walhalla in Gippsland burned earlier in the week, with a “stay informed” alert at time of writing.