ROLLING COVERAGE: Fire threatens homes near Lancefield
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Angry locals have demanded answers from fire authorities during a tense public meeting at Lancefield over a planned burn which escaped and destroyed at least one house, burnt farmland and a vast area of state forest.
Residents expressed disbelief that the planned burn was lit in the Cobaw State Forest last Wednesday, given hot temperatures were expected for the Grand Final weekend. The fire has now burnt more than 3000 hectares, is not under control and remains a threat to private property.
Most of the anger was directed at the Victorian Environment Department, whose staff undertook the burn as part of a fuel reduction strategy.
Residents told fire chiefs from the Environment Department and CFA, as well as police and other officials, that the bushfire was not the first time a "planned burn" in the region had escaped.
One man labelled the Environment Department "the department of scorched earth," while a woman told the meeting that other planned burns in previous years had also escaped.
"It's the same mistake this time, it's just bigger," she said.
People expressed anger about the attitude of police towards locals at road blocks, a lack of information about whether their house had been destroyed, mobile phone and internet blackspots in the area of the fire and rules restricting firewood collection - which they said made the bush more prone to fire.
Facing more than 200 people at the meeting, chief fire officer of the Environment Department Alan Goodwin was contrite. "It's not good enough that this happens," he said.
"It's not good enough to me either," he said.
Mr Goodwin, who was there representing the Environment Department, faced seething anger from the crowd. This was because it was staff from the Environment Department who planned and undertook the controlled burn.
Mr Goodwin also appeared to acknowledge that the burn was responsible for the upheaval now faced by the local community when he told the meeting: "The burn is responsible for this, and it is obviously. And we need to find out where and how and why," he said.
Local state MP Mary-Anne Thomas also addressed the crowd, on behalf of the State Government.
Ms Thomas told the group that she could see how stressed, tired and angry people were.
"I'm listening to what you are saying and I am available to assist you," she said.
"What has happened is completely unacceptable. And what I hear today is the real concerns that you have about getting real-time information, so you know what's going on," she said.
"The minister has ordered a full investigation because it is unacceptable that a fire that was a planned burn, has got away and has put our community in this situation. It will be an independent investigation," she said.