Grampians bushfire contained as Victoria enjoys cool change

Firefighters have contained a bushfire that’s scorched a massive chunk of the Grampians. Here’s the extent of the damage.

Firefighters have contained the massive Grampians bushfire, making the most of the cool change after 21 days battling the blaze.

More than 76,000 hectares of the Grampians region have already been scorched over the past four weeks — a fire footprint larger than Singapore or Tonga.

Four residential properties in Moyston and Mafeking were destroyed since the fire began prior to Christmas with 40 outbuildings in Moyston, Willaura, Willaura North, Mafeking, Pomonal, Glenthompson and Mirranatwa also destroyed.

The Country Fire Authority released preliminary data on Monday which indicates livestock losses include 775 sheep, one horse, one beef cow and 1285 beehives.

State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty told The Weekly Times that mild conditions last week aided containment work.

“Declaring a fire zone contained requires a level of confidence that fires are contained right around the perimeter of the fire zone. That was largely the case last week with the milder weather but we had the hot days forecast for the Saturday and Sunday, so we had to get through those before making this declaration,” he said.

Firefighters working near Moyston on December 30. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Hegarty said much of Victoria remained dry, with January and February traditionally months when large-scale bushfires wreaked havoc.

“The rain (on Monday) certainly helps ease the fire risk, given how dry much of the state is, but much of Victoria is still in rainfall deficit,” he said.

“The rainfall gives firefighters a bit of a breather but we’re in early January, so we’ve still got a fair bit of the bushfire season to go.”

Weather stations near the Grampians such as Ben Nevis and Kangulk went from temperature highs of more than 38C on Sunday afternoon to lows of 14C Monday morning as a rainfront swept across western Victoria to start the week.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking surveyed the damage alongside Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence last week.

“A number of farmers near the Grampians had a pretty tough Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day,” he said.

“Instead of unwrapping presents, there were families herding up livestock, getting them to a safer spot. It’s all part of being a farming family, but it’s different to most families enjoying Christmas.”