Mallacoota forgotten: CFA silent as catastrophic conditions hit

The NSW Rural Fire Service declared “catastrophic” conditions on its far south coast, while the CFA issued no warnings for dry East Gippsland.

Fire-scarred Mallacoota residents were on edge this week as just across the border NSW Rural Fire Service declared catastrophic conditions. Picture: Alex Coppel

Residents of Far East Gippsland’s fire-scarred community were left wondering why the CFA failed to issue any warnings or restrictions this week, while just across the border NSW Rural Fire Service declared a catastrophic fire day.

On Tuesday NSW RFS’s warned: “Due to stronger than forecast winds along the Far South Coast, catastrophic fire danger is expected this afternoon in the region.

“For your survival, avoid being in bush and grass fire risk areas today. These are the most dangerous conditions for a fire.”

Yet Mallacoota resident and Howitt Society member Angie Cooper said the conditions were no different in Far East Gippsland, with the mercury hitting 34 degrees and north-north-westerly winds whipping through town.

“I hammered Facebook (on Tuesday) to get people to be aware conditions were going to be atrocious,” Ms Cooper said.

NSW Rural Fire Service catastrophic fire alert for the south coast of NSW

By 6pm that night NSW RFS reported 70 fires burning across the state, with most of those on the south coast, right down to Rockton near the Victorian border.

Fires also broke out in Victoria at Maramingo, near the border, and further west at Newmerella, near Orbost.

Ms Cooper said it was “so wrong that our (Victorian) government and its emergency services agencies did not even bother to issue any warnings” on Tuesday.

The CFA is yet to even declare fire restrictions in Far East Gippsland, despite Bureau of Meteorology maps showing root zone moisture in the top metre of soil had dropped to the driest one per cent of years on record, in a zone that extends from the south coast of NSW, through Mallacoota and out to Orbost.

Bureau of Meteorology Soil Moisture map – dark brown is driest one per cent of years on record.

When asked why a catastrophic fire day was not called for Far East Gippsland, CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said Victoria’s high-risk fire season typically began a few weeks or months after New South Wales began experiencing warmer conditions.

“CFA works with partner emergency service agencies and the Bureau of Meteorology to determine when fire danger ratings will commence in Victoria and relies on continuous feedback from partner agencies, CFA brigades and districts about local conditions,” he said.

“In East Gippsland, CFA is closely engaging with local members and will declare the start of the fire danger period within weeks.”

He said a declaration may be issued as early as October in some areas and would typically remain in place until the fire danger lessens, which could be as late as May.

Mallacoota CFA 1st lieutenant Rod Lewis. Picture: David Caird

Mallacoota CFA first lieutenant Rod Lewis said the forecast for Mallacoota on Tuesday was hot and windy, but no major warnings were put out.

He said the brigade was called out to a 20ha fire at Maramingo on Tuesday, which then got back-up from the NSWRFS and then a Victorian government forest fire crew from Cann River.

Meanwhile CFA firefighter numbers are crashing as it struggles to retain ageing volunteers and recruit new ones in the face of major bureaucratic hurdles.