The number of homes destroyed in the Wye River fire on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road on Christmas Day has risen to 116.
Country Fire Authority deputy incident controller Mark Gunning said
116 houses in Wye River and Separation Creek had been destroyed in the
2200-hectare blaze.
“That will probably be the final number, as we’ve just completed an extensive search,” Gunning said on Saturday evening.
The fire swept through bushland and began to advance toward the town of Lorne on Friday night.
And the emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said the
blaze could continue burning until January or February. Even a dousing
of rain on Saturday was unlikely to do much in the long term once the
state began to dry out. “This fire doesn’t go away,” Lapsley said.
More than 300 firefighters spent the night fighting the fire after
the town of Lorne was evacuated on Friday evening. Residents were told
they could go home after an evacuation recommendation was lifted shortly
after 9am on Saturday.
The nearby townships of Wye River, Separation Creek, Kennett River
and Grey River were evacuated earlier on Friday afternoon. Emergency
warnings remain in place for Wye River and Separation Creek, and both
areas remained closed on Saturday afternoon.
“Power is out, though fallen domestic solar power lines remain a threat,” a Country Fire Authority notice said.
“There are a number of hazardous tress that have been burnt and are
dangerous, and damage to septic systems can result in leaking sewerage
and health hazards.”
Crews were also assessing the full extent of property damage in area.
Watch and act alerts were in place Today for Lorne, Allenvale, Kennett River and Grey River.
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