Bush fires in Australasia

Wellington: Happy Valley fire could smoulder for days

Fire crews are keeping a close eye on a large scrub fire in Wellington ahead of a possible wind change threatening to spread the blaze.

NZ Herald,

21 February, 2013 


The overnight fire covered about 50ha in Happy Valley, close to the city's landfill, endangering up to 30 houses and forcing the evacuation of up to 70 residents today.

It was brought under control this morning but is expected to smoulder for several days.

Several appliances and firefighters remained at the scene working on the blaze and on standby as a change of wind direction expected today could spread it further, a Fire Service central communications spokesman said.

Three helicopters with monsoon buckets were used to fight the fire, said Fire Service assistant area manager for Wellington Brett Lockyer.

"At the height of the fire there was a lot of work and it was a fast-burning fire but at this stage there's been a change in wind direction which has assisted us, moving the fire away from the houses, and the fire crews are making good progress. It is safe to say the fire is under control."

The blaze is thought to have started about 2am.

The cause is being investigated....

NZ: Crews remain at Northland fire site

Radio NZ,

21 February, 2013

Firefighters remain at the scene of a scrub fire in Northland though all but a small portion has been contained.

The blaze, which is half a kilometre wide, began on Tuesday night at Tapora, on the Okahukura Peninsula on the eastern side of the Kaipara Harbour.

It has scorched through nearly 65 hectares of wild pines, gorse, pampas and coastal scrub land.

Auckland Council principal rural fire officer Bryan Cartelle said a small crew working overnight on Wednesday was able to keep the fire largely under control.

A full crew took over on Thursday morning and about 35 firefighters were working on strengthening containment lines. A fire investigator will try to pinpoint how the blaze in began.

Mr Cartelle said dry conditions have been hindering efforts to put out the fire, and it is being fed by heavy timber on the sand dunes, but he is confident it won't spread any further.

He said there is still a risk of flare-ups as the day gets warmer.

Mr Cartelle says once the containment lines have been completed, crews will conduct a fly-over to get a better idea of the damage the fire has done.

Bushfire threatens farming communities

An out of control bushfire in Victoria's west is expected to swing to the south, threatening farming communities.

The Age,

21 February, 2013

Firefighters are building containment lines across the southern flank of the blaze, which has burnt about 25,000 hectares in the Grampians National Park.

A northerly wind change, coupled with 33 degree heat, expected on Thursday is expected to fan the inferno towards the farming communities of Woohlpooer, Glenisla and Mooralla, which are all located along the Henty Highway, south-west of the Grampians.

Incident controller Paul Bates, based in Horsham, said firefighters had to "fallback" over Wednesday night after a south-easterly wind increased to between 20 and 30 km/h.

He said the higher winds pushed the fire across heath and swamp land, across the Henty Highway towards Rocklands Reservoir.

"We had to fall back and do mainly asset protection with a number of vehicles at people's homes," Mr Bates said. "They were all well prepared."

Mr Bates said a wind change was expected to swing the blaze into private property, most of which is open farmland.

A State Bushfire Control Centre spokesman said the blaze was expected to hit Woohlpooer, Glenisla and Mooralla any time on Thursday, but hoped the containment lines would limit its impact.

The Country Fire Authority has advised residents to enact their fire plans or leave their homes if are not comfortable defending them.

The control centre spokesman said about 250 firefighters with 80 tankers, 20 bulldozers and 15 air water bombers were battling the fire. He said erratic winds had been challenging.

"The lower winds have been southerly, while the upper winds have been northerly, so you have this big mixing bowl," the spokesman said.

"What is happening is the fire goes up a ridge line then turns around."

Police and the CFA closed the Henty Highway, a main north-south transport route in Victoria's west, between Horsham and Cavendish on Wednesday afternoon.

The control centre spokesman said traffic management points had been set up at Mooralla and Cherrypool, a small community on the Grampians' north-eastern fringe.

The fire started by lightning last Thursday and has been creating spot fires one kilometre ahead of it.