Forest Fire Management Victoria crews have battled 91 fires across the state since November 22 in a busy start to the fire season.
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In preparation for the fire season, FFMV crews have also been undertaking planned burns across the state with nine planned burns across 766 hectares in the Murray Goldfields region.
“It has been a busy start to the fire season, with lightning starting a significant number of fires,” FFMV chief fire officer Stephanie Rotarangi said.
“Our crews have been working hard in steep terrain and tough conditions to tackle these fires alongside Country Fire Authority firefighters.”
Of the 91 fires on public land, two were in the Murray Goldfields region.
FFMV senior fire management officer Jeff Wilkie said a lightning strike started a fire in Joseph Young Drive, Mount Alexander, last Friday.
“The Helitac out of Bendigo extinguished that fire pretty quickly. The storm went across at 5.45pm and the strike happened at 6.20pm,” Mr Wilkie said.
Another fire was deliberately lit in Long Gully Creek, North Bendigo, last Saturday.
“That fire is under investigation. We were contacted by the fire tower at 2.35pm and assisted the CFA in controlling it,” Mr Wilkie said.
Dr Rotarangi said the skills and equipment of firefighters has been a vital factor in fighting and containing the fires quickly.
“Our rappel crews have been deployed to fight fires in the high country and our firefighters with special training for arduous conditions have been busy as well,” she said.
“Crews are working in challenging and remote terrain to contain the spread of these fires as quickly as possible.”
FFMV crews have also been able to use an impressive range of new vehicles including heavy tankers (called Unimogs) and light tankers (called G Wagons).
“These vehicles not only improve firefighter safety but have increased capacity to carry firefighters, their water and their gear into rugged terrain,” Dr Rotarangi said
“The early despatch of firefighting aircraft has helped us detect and extinguish these forest fires, many of which are in difficult to access areas.”
“Importantly there has been no property loss or threat to communities so far this fire season.”