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2.30pm
Daylesford is eerily quiet as residents recover from the shock of the bushfire, which burned as close as 300 metres from residences.
Daylesford resident Sheree said many people were still shaken up after the weekend’s events.
Her friend Bec came to stay with her after she saw the fires burning near her Hepburn home on Saturday afternoon.
Sheree said the fires reminded her of the 2009 bushfires and gave her quite a scare.
“The heat was just so hot around the time they upped the warning for Daylesford. It was 38 and later in the afternoon when the humidity really kicked in and the wind picked up, I started to get really nervous,” Sheree said.
“They were very similar to the 2009 bushfires in their severity.”
Sheree said she didn’t have an exact fire plan, but has two boxes packed in case of an emergency, which contain all of her daughter’s baby things and their important documents.
“I have two boxes in my house so if ever I need to get out of here, those two boxes go in my car and we just drive away.”
She said some people were getting frustrated that the Vic Emergency app was not being updated on Sunday night, but that by using multiple means of information, like the CFA website and Hepburn Shire Emergency Management page, people could stay informed.
Sheree applauded the work of the region’s firefighters and said she was appreciative that schools were closed on Monday as it gave people a chance to mentally recover.
“There is an emotional toll and we all just feel drained,” she said.
“We can all settle back in this afternoon. The sounds of the helicopters and the planes are still dumping water today.”
Businesses and accommodation services opened their doors to those who had to evacuate, including elderly residents of Hepburn House, while other people opened their homes and paddocks to pets, horses and cattle.
10.40am
The Hepburn-Manning Road fire has significantly subsided due to favourable weather following a wind change overnight.
Country Fire Authority incident controller Jon Rofe said the fire dangers on Monday were reduced, which would allow firefighters to consolidate control lines.
“Fire behaviour has subsided dramatically overnight due to good weather following the wind change,” he said.
“Firefighters will be undertaking blacking out and burning out remaining fuel if required.
“Crews will be working on the remains of the fire for a number of days. There is still a relief centre available at Victoria Park in Daylesford.”
Mr Rofe said the Back Hepburn Road remained closed. Road closures will be reviewed by noon.
“Finally I’d like to acknowledge the great work by the on-ground firefighters and the amazing support the received by aerial bombers in keeping the fire relatively small and minimising its impact to Hepburn and surrounding areas,” Mr Rofe said.
“I’d also like to thank those within the community who helped in all facets of the firefighting effort and their support and patience during this time.”
The fire started last week after a band of lightning struck. Mr Rofe said the blaze took off on Saturday and burnt through 28 hectares north of Hepburn.
The following schools and kindergartens are closed due to the fire situation:
- Hepburn Primary School
- Daylesford Primary School
- Daylesford Secondary College
- Yandoit Primary School
- Hepburn Springs Kindergarten
- Daylesford Kindergarten
- Daylesford Community Child Care Centre
- Hepburn Primary School Out of School Hours Care
- St Michael's Primary School
10am
THOSE with tanks are being warned their drinking water may be contaminated from debris and ash from the fire or aerial bombing activities, the CFA has warned.
People whose properties have been bombed with water or fire-retardant are being urged to contact the Hepburn Shire Council to determine whether their water tanks need to be cleaned out.
The reticulated water people in town is safe to drink, the CFA says.
Central Highlands Water is providing support to fire agencies and firefighting aircraft by providing access to recycled treated water from their water treatment plant at Shepherds Flat. This water is intended for irrigation use only and not for human consumption.
THE Hepburn-Mannings Road fire was brought under control this morning. Firefighters and heavy machinery remain in the area.
MONDAY 6.30am
THE Hepburn fire is thought to have been triggered by lightning.
The blaze is still marked out of control, with a watch and act warning in place as fire firefighters work to contain the blaze.
The fire is not spreading.
More than 600 people attended last night’s community meeting in Daylesford and 100 people have accessed a community relief centre.
Schools across the Daylesford and Hepburn area are preparing to close today as the fire continued to burn out of control.
They include Hepburn Primary School, Daylesford Primary School, St Michaels Primary School and Daylesford Secondary College.
UPDATE, Sunday 7.35pm: At a community meeting in Daylesford this evening, CFA incident controller Jon Rofe said the main area of concern was to the north-east of the fire, because of a south-westerly wind change.
Mr Rofe said firefighters would continue patrolling the site for a number of days.
He said it had been “a bit lucky” because the fire had not moved across the landscape much, meaning emergency services had been able to keep pace with updates for the community.
Any further emergency warnings meant something had changed significantly, he said, and residents would have to act accordingly.
The Australian Red Cross has launched its Register.Find.Reunite service for those affected by the Hepburn fire.
Anyone looking for a loved one should visit www.redcross.org.au.
UPDATE 5.55pm: An emergency warning for Hepburn and Hepburn Springs has been downgraded to a watch and act alert, although the fire is not yet under control.
Firefighters remain on scene, and aircraft and heavy machinery continue to operate.
People in the area are advised to monitor changes to the situation.
Roads are closed at Midland Highway and Back Hepburn Road, and Main Road and Mineral Springs Crescent.
UPDATE 5.40pm: The Hepburn fire is burning less than 300m from homes as a gusty cool change is predicted to hit the fireground within the hour.
While the progress of the fire has been slowed by ground crews supported by water and retardant bombing aircraft, the fire still poses significant risks particularly to the Hepburn and Hepburn Springs communities, according to CFA incident controller Jon Rofe.
Police and emergency service workers door-knocked about 70 homes, in areas at risk of coming under direct threat of fire, early in the morning urging residents to evacuate.
Mr Rofe said leaving the area now was the safest option, using Main Road towards Daylesford.
“The fire is less than 300 metres from residential houses and heavy smoke is affecting Hepburn today,” he said.
“Please stay away from the warning area to keep roads free emergency services vehicles.”
An emergency warning remains in effect for Hepburn and Hepburn Springs, and a watch and act is in place for Bryces Flat, Daylesford, Dry Diggings, Elevated Plains, Kidds Gully and Shepherds Flat.
A community meeting will be held at the Daylesford Town Hall at 6pm tonight.
A south westerly wind change is expected in the next hour will likely impact the direction of the fire, which has burned about 28 hectares.
Emergency Services commissioner Andrew Crisp said it was vital for members of the community to stay aware of the fire behaviour.
“It’s important for members of the public out there to stay across about what is happening across the state, You need to know how you can access information to make informed decision – whether that’s through the Vic Emergency app, through the Vic Emergency hotline (1800 226 226) and website, and via social media.
“You need a number of different sources to ensure you get information to make good decisions about where you live or travel,” he said.
During a press conference about 4pm, Mr Crisp said the Hepburn fire was “looking somewhat more positive than what is was first thing this morning”.
“But we’re not complacent about this fire. There’s still plenty of heat in the day and we know the wind is likely to pick up and then the change come through that particular area.”
Mr Crisp said the greatest danger now was the wind change.
“Whenever we get a wind change there’s potential danger, whether that’s in relation to community or firefighters themselves,” he said.
“When a fire travels in a south easterly direction, then the change comes invariably it picks up from the south so what was the eastern flank of the fire becomes the head and it’s much wider than what was original head of the fire.
“We map all that and work out strategies and plan accordingly.”
UPDATE 5.35pm: Water bombing aircraft have been working in the vicinity of Mannings Road and Dry Diggings Track.
The town water supply remains safe to drink, but those on tank water are advised their water might be contaminated from debris, ash and aerial bombing activities.
Anyone whose property has been affected by aerial water bombing or fire retardant activities is urged to contact Hepburn Shire Council on 5348 2306 from tomorrow morning.
The council will help determine if tanks need to be cleaned out before water is consumed.
Hepburn Primary School, Daylesford Primary School, Daylesford Secondary College and St Michael’s Primary School will all be closed on Monday.
Anyone who finds injured wildlife should call the Wildlife Victoria 24 hour state-wide wildlife rescue service on 1300 094 535 or Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning forest and wildlife officers on 136 186.
UPDATE 4.25pm: Residents of one Hepburn Springs property have spent the day preparing for the possibility of fire affecting their homes.
Brenna Quinlan lives at Melliodora, a permaculture gardens site on Fourteenth Street.
The fire is burning in bushland at the end of the road.
Ms Quinlan said the residents first noticed the fire when they sat down to have dinner about 6pm-6.30pm Saturday.
She said they saw a plume of smoke rising from a spot where lightning had struck a few days earlier.
The smoke grew, she said, and within half an hour they could see the flames from the roof, with a significant fire burning behind the hill.
Ms Quinlan said the residents of the property chose to stay on Sunday, having a well-rehearsed fire plan in place.
She said part of permaculture was an awareness of fire safety, and members of the three households on the property had been carrying out fire preparation activities weekly.
They were also all able to work the water pump and fire hoses, Ms Quinlan said, and knew all their roles were fire to affect the property.
The residents spent the day raking leaves, filling gutters with water, taking care of the goats, and carting food up to the CFA.
Ms Quinlan said Saturday morning was dramatic, with small aircraft and helicopters flying overhead, and a consistent stream of CFA vehicles passing by.
The situation calmed in the afternoon, but Ms Quinlan said there was some concern about an expected wind change this afternoon.
No matter what happened, she said she expected to face a very different landscape in the gully she and other residents visited each day once the fire was extinguished.
Emergency Victoria advises fire activity has increased with the afternoon rise in temperature.
Residents in the Hepburn and north Hepburn Springs area are still advised to leave.
UPDATE 3.45pm: The CFA will hold a community meeting at the Daylesford Town Hall at 6pm for residents of the area.
UPDATE 3pm: The community in Hepburn Springs, Hepburn, Daylesford and the wider region is banding together in the face of a destructive bushfire.
Social media pages are awash with offers of places to stay, and places to house pets and livestock, from residents and businesses alike.
The Farmers Arms Art Motel in Daylesford has offered free accommodation to those who have had to leave their home.
Manager Marguerite Thomas said nine rooms had been taken up so far.
“We’re just happy to help out,” Ms Thomas said.
She said everyone was calm, albeit looking a bit tired.
The fire has been burning for almost 24 hours now.
Ms Thomas said the situation was “very well-handled” by emergency services, and everyone had the highest regard for how the CFA and police had operated.
About 50 people are now at the relief centre in Daylesford.
Some people who have left their homes have found accommodation at caravan parks and hotels, while about 30 are still looking for accommodation.
The Daylesford RSL has announced it will not open today. The Daylesford Mill Market has also been closed today.
UPDATE 2.50pm: At least one Daylesford school will be closed on Monday as a result of the bushfire north of Hepburn Springs.
St Michael’s Primary School has advised it will close on Monday and, at this stage, reopen Tuesday.
Daylesford Primary School says it is waiting on further advice.
UPDATE 1pm: The Avro RJ85 large air tanker, based at Avalon, has been dropping flame retardant over the fire near Hepburn since early morning.
Resident Michael Teague watched the first firebombing run from the helicopters last night from his 14th Avenue home, and said the intense aerial firefight was a relief with the fire burning in the inaccessible gorge.
Mr Teague decided to defy this morning’s evacuation orders and remain to defend his home.
“There’s still small puffs of smoke in the air but not as many now,” he said at 12.15pm.
Mr Teague said he was prepared if fire broke out of the gorge, with fire hoses at the ready and an 8000 litre pool to act as a reservoir.
The pool was supposed to be used for his daughter’s 12th birthday party – a sleepover and pool party – but her friends had to be sent home.
“We had my daughter’s party … but they all got out of here through the night. The whole hill behind was on fire,” he said.
UPDATE 10.20am: Many residents of Hepburn and Hepburn Springs were woken soon after 5am with a knock on the door from firefighters asking them to leave their homes as a potentially dangerous fire burned nearby.
CFA incident controller Brett Boatman said it was the first time in his career that he could remember that occurring.
The scrub fire burning in a nearby gorge threatens to break out of difficult terrain as north westerly winds pick up during the day.
“The fire is burning in the gorge around Spring Creek, which is really difficult to access and egress,” Mr Boatman said.
“There’s heavy fuel in there but it’s impossible for us to get in there. Crews can fight the fire when it comes up and out of the gorge but we can’t get in to the gorge to make a break,” he said.
The fire was first reported about 5.30pm Saturday with a watch and act message for the local area issued a short time later.
At 8.30am Sunday, Emergency Management Victoria issued an emergency warning asking people from Hepburn and Hepburn Springs to leave, with fears the fire could impact the town within two hours.
Another emergency warning has just been issued at 9.50am stating: “Hepburn and the northern section of Hepburn Springs could be impacted anytime within the next 2 hours. Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.
“Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”
A relief centre has been set up at Victoria Park, Burrall Street off the Ballan-Daylesford Road, Daylesford.
About 200 CFA, DELWP and Forest Fire Management firefighters, 50 fire trucks, four bulldozers and at least five aircraft are currently tackling the blaze before the fiercest fire weather conditions align later in the day.
“In terms of the fire fight, I heard someone say that it’s hand to hand combat … up against this gorge is really difficult and somewhat dangerous,” Mr Boatman said.
Crews have been deployed around the area based on where fire ground controllers see the greatest risk of the fire emerging from the gorge.
Mr Boatman urged people to stay away from the area to allow clear access for fire crews.
“If you’ve driven through Daylesford on a Sunday you know how busy it gets. We wants the roads as clear as we can for resources and, with a lot of aircraft flying over the fire, we know people get very drawn in with tunnel vision.”
EARLIER: Firefighters continue to fight a bushfire north of Hepburn Springs that has prompted an evacuation warning.
The fire started on Manning Road at Elevated Plains on Saturday evening and burned through the night.
Residents in the Hepburn and north Hepburn Springs area are advised to leave immediately, while a watch and act alert has been issued for the surrounding area.
Police are door-knocking in the area, advising residents to evacuate.
There are currently 11 CFA units at the scene, along with aircraft and heavy machinery.
The 10th annual Lake Daylesford Swim Classic and the weekly Daylesford Sunday Market have been cancelled as a result of the fire.
A total fire ban applies across Victoria on Sunday.
The Central forecast district – in which Hepburn Springs sits – has a severe fire danger rating today, while the North Central and Northern Country districts are at very high.
Temperatures across the region are expected to reach the high 30s to low 40s today.
More to come.
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