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Homes
lost as fires in Australia continue
19 March, 2018
Huge
fires continue to burn in Australia, with one near Bega on the NSW
south coast destroying dozens of properties, and several in southwest
Victoria sweeping across 40,000 hectares.
"The
fire has burnt right to the coast in strong winds," the NSW
Rural Fire Service tweeted. Photo: Twitter / @NSWRFS
Four
serious fires still burning in Victoria had likely been started by
lightning strikes about 9pm on Saturday.
In
New South Wales, some residents were evacuated from Tathra to nearby
Bega, while others were told it was too dangerous for them to move.
The destructive blaze destroyed dozens of properties and was one of
26 bush and grass fires burning across the state on Sunday.
A
fire near Bega in NSW affected the towns of Tathra and Tarraganda,
and crossed the Bega River about 4pm yesterday local time.
NSW
Rural fire service tweeted this morning that 70 homes and buildings
were thought to have been destroyed.
At this stage it is believed that more than 70 homes and other buildings have been destroyed in the #Tathra bush fire. #NSWRFS Building Impact Assessment teams in area this morning to confirm exact number.
More
than 150 firefighters were battling the bushfire in the early hours
of Monday morning. It remained out of control about 1am local time,
although conditions began to ease after a southerly change on Sunday
night.
While
the RFS had warned it was too dangerous for Tathra locals to leave
the area, some residents were evacuated to Bega. An evacuation centre
was established at the Bega Showground and animals were being
accepted.
NSW
Family and Community Services said up to four people had been
hospitalised with smoke inhalation by late Sunday evening. One
firefighter has been treated for a minor injury.
The
NSW RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said the blaze had "burnt
some seven kilometres right into Tathra itself, unfortunately
impacting a lot of homes in the area".
"I
think we'll hear in days to come some of the dramatic experiences
people have had this afternoon," he said yesterday.
"I
think it's been a pretty horrendous time for both firefighters and
residents in that township."
An
emergency warning was downgraded to 'watch and act' this morning,
while advice warnings were in place for a number of other fires in
the state.
Total
fire bans were declared in 11 areas around NSW on Sunday.
The
Rural Fire Service said it had been a dangerous and difficult day in
the state, with 26 bush and grass fires burning, 12 of which had been
uncontained.
The
service's Paul Best said authorities would not know the full extent
of the damage until later on Monday.
"Bush
fire impact assessment teams will move across the fire ground today,
and undertake those assessments of properties that have been
destroyed or damaged. So that will occur throughout today," Mr
Best said.
Hundreds take shelter from Victoria fires
In
Victoria, about 800 people reported to five relief centres and more
than 400 people asked for help from the State Emergency Service as
fires burned over the weekend.
On
Sunday, about 280 firefighters were battling the blazes, with
assistance from 29 aircraft.
Country
Fire Authority assistant chief officer Rohan Luke said conditions
were extremely difficult for firefighters working in the dark, in
rough terrain, and with 90km/h winds.
"I've
had feedback from some of our members today, that are seasoned
veterans, and they've said this is the hardest fire that they've had
to fight, in their memory."
An
unknown number of sheds and pieces of farm machinery, as well as
hundreds of beef and dairy cattle were destroyed over Saturday night
and Sunday, with approximately 40,000 hectares of land damaged.
Mr
Luke said it was fortunate there was no loss of human life.
"There
has been significant stock losses, property losses which are
currently being assessed and obviously farm sheds," he said.
"I
think at this stage we're looking at over 12 [houses lost]. It's
still yet to be determined. We're not in a position to identify the
locations of those."
There
were still four main fires in the area about 1.30am local time
including near Penshurst and Hawkesdale north-west of Warrnambool;
near Gavroc south-west of Terang; near Terang and Cobden; and a
smaller fire at Camperdown east of Terang.
At
one point, up to 40 towns were issued with an emergency warning or
watch and act alert as hot weather and strong winds caused numerous
blazes to flare across farmland around Camperdown, Warrnambool and
Hamilton, but most of those were lifted this morning.
Victorian
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said most of the fires were
started by a lightning front that went through the region, but
investigators would make "a full determination of the causes".
-
ABC
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