TRAGEDY ... Dozens have died and more than 640 homes have been destroyed in raging bushfires across Victoria, north of Melbourne. Picture: Mick Tsikas/REUTERS
HERALD SUN
February 08, 2009 03:45am
UPDATED : THE death toll from the devastating Victorian bushfires has risen to 36 and more than 640 homes destroyed.
While firebugs are being blamed for several blazes ravaging Victoria, the Country Fire Authority has confirmed that several fires are being deliberately relit by arsonists.
CFA deputy chief Steve Warrington said an arsonist is hampering firefighters’ efforts in Churchill with an intense blaze taking hold.
"We know we do have someone who is lighting fires in this community. While we often think it's spotting, we also know that there are people lighting fires deliberately," he said.
"A lot of these fires actually went over expectations.
"This was one of them. It actually exceeded expectations and went towards the coast."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered army troops to help firefighters control 26 fires that have weaked deadly havoc around the state, Premier John Brumby said.
"The army will become involved, I spoke to the Prime Minister in the early hours of this morning when I was in Bendigo,'' Mr Brumby told reporters in Kilmore.
"He's obviously triggered the disaster arrangements, so all of the cash payments are flowing through to families and they commence immediately."
Victoria Police latest: Where the fire victims are from
Deputy police commissioner Kieran Walshe said he believed the Kinglake victims were all in the same car. The Strethewen victims were also believed to together.
He believed arsonists were responsible for some of the nine major fires ripping across the state.
"We suspect a number of the fires have been deliberately lit,'' Mr Walshe told reporters.
Mr Walshe said he could not determine whether the victims were civilians or firefighters. He said identifications could not be carried out until at least tomorrow.
At least 100 homes have been destroyed as nine major blazes burnt out of control across Victoria in the worst fire conditions in the state's history.
Anyone concerned about family or friends in affected areas should call the CFA on 1800 727 077.
Do you know of any Tasmanians caught up in the fires? Call the Mercury on (03) 6230 0732 or tell us in the comments box below.
One man, aged in his 40s, is in critical condition after suffering burns to 50 per cent of his body when he tried to move stock in the Coleraine area in the state's west. He was being airlifted to the Alfred Hospital.
More than 3000 firefighters and many more residents battled major fronts at Horsham, Coleraine, Weerite, Kilmore East, Bunyip, Churchill, Dargo, Murrindindi and Redesdale in all corners of the scorched state as the searing heat in the mid 40s and high winds exceeded authorities' predictions of the worst fire conditions in the state's history.
The Kilmore region in the north and several areas of Gippsland in the east were on high alert as an uneasy dusk fell on Saturday night, while the Horsham fire was downgraded early in the evening.
Fifty houses were reportedly lost in the Bendigo area in the Redesdale blaze and up to 30 houses went up in the Kilmore fire which pushed across Whittlesea and into the town of Kinglake, northwest of Melbourne, which one resident said had gone up in flames.
"The whole township is pretty much on fire," Peter Mitchell told ABC Radio.
"There was was no time to do anything ... it came through in minutes.
"There'll be a massive loss of houses ... There'll be a lot of us homeless.
"All those who have made it into town will be fine. The others will be sheltering and working on their fire plans, God help them."
Mr Mitchell said he was with around 200 residents holed up in the local pub and that no fire trucks could get into the town.
Thousands more residents in the region were sheltering wherever they could find cover as they were warned the worst was to come overnight.
A cool change early this evening did not bring any respite but, in fact, was expected to create more volatile conditions.
"It hasn't helped the firefighters, only presented them with new fronts," the Country Fire Authority spokeswoman said.
The CFA and DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment) warned Victorians to prepare to be hit by fire late tonight and to be especially prepared for ember attack.
"You should assume that as the wind change comes through, that your property could be impacted," CFA State Coordinator Geoff Conway said.
Latrobe Valley power stations were under threat as a fire on the eastern fringes of the Strzelecki Ranges spread toward the Gippsland coast, threatening towns such as Yarram, Langsbrough and Manns Beach.
"It is pretty well every part of the state except the far northwest," CFA Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Haynes said.
The Horsham fire burnt 5700 hectares and claimed at least three homes, the town's golf club and several sheds.
The Bunyip State Park reached 2400 hectares, and one at Kilmore burned 2000 hectares.
CFA deputy chief fire officer John Haynes said it would be about midnight, after the cool change had swept across the state, before fire fighters knew whether they had got on top of the blazes.
"Our guys have been flat out trying to fight the fires and trying to pin them down a bit," Mr Haynes said.
"The fire weather ... was extreme and off the scale."
By 6pm, at least one house was destroyed at Coleraine in Victoria's west, in Melbourne's southeast three homes were destroyed at Lyndbrook; and north of Melbourne six houses were destroyed at Wandong and one at Whittlesea.
Homes were also lost in Labertouche, near the Bunyip State Park east of Melbourne.
"There will be more to come," Mr Haynes said.
Julie Venrooy said from Shady Creek, east of Melbourne, said she had been forced to stay on the Princes Highway south of Tonimbuk by police, unable to return to her home.
"I've been able to contact my husband once. He's had ember attack, that was about an hour ago but I don't know what's happened since," Ms Venrooy said.
Victoria Premier John Brumby said one fire threatening his parents' home in Coleraine was stopped literally on their doorstep.
"I would like to thank DSE, CFA and SES (State Emergency Services) fire fighters and volunteers who have fought tirelessly throughout the day to protect Victorian people and property," Mr Brumby said.
The fires came as Melbourne reached its hottest ever temperature of 46.4 degrees, while nearby Avalon recorded the state's high of 47.9.
More details at the Herald Sun.
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