CFA chief Euan Ferguson believes a fire that is tearing through the Cobaw Ranges near Lancefield, destroying at least one home and several outbuildings, will burn for ‘‘at least another couple of days’’.
Appearing in front of more than 500 people who crammed into Lancefield’s town hall for a testy community meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Ferguson said the fire, which is threatening houses in Benloch, Pastoria East, Pastoria, Nulla Vale, Baynton and Emu Flat, was spreading quickly through rough terrain.
He said authorities hoped to control the 3000-plus hectare blaze before higher temperatures and a wind change expected by the weekend.
The fire started as a planned burn last Wednesday before jumping containment lines on Saturday and again on Tuesday.
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‘‘The fire is starting to come out onto grassland and we are being very successful,’’ Mr Ferguson said.
‘‘We will be putting every effort into putting in control lines, to direct supression, using aircraft and defending homes … so by the weekend we can hopefully have this fire tied up.
‘‘But as we’ve seen, this is a very capricious fire.’’
Expect property losses
Mr Ferguson said he hoped to be proven wrong, but it was ‘‘reasonable to expect there will be more property losses’’.
He said the underlying dryness of the forest area was making things difficult for firefighters.
Fixed-wing planes have also been restricted to limited use due to location of the fire amongst dense bush and gullies.
‘‘Additional resources aren’t necessarily going to help at the moment,’’ he said, responding to questions about the possibility of the army being called in.
Mr Ferguson echoed comments made by Macedon Ranges police Inspector Ryan Irwin, who urged people unable to return to their houses near the fire ground to respect the process.
Seven traffic management points have been set up around fire-affected areas, with only emergency services allowed through.
‘‘People will not be let back in until the incident controller advises that it is safe for them to do so,’’ Mr Irwin said.
Authorities hope to reopen Three Chain Road soon.
Fear and frustration
Many residents expressed their fear and frustration about a lack of real-time information available about property losses.
One resident, uncertain about the status of her house, burst into tears.
Authorities explained that areas had to be cleared of falling trees and branches before assessment teams were allowed in.
Mr Ferguson said firefighters were reporting that well-prepared properties had been faring well, but there had been losses where there was bushland right up to houses.
He encouraged people to make use of a 24-hour information van set up in the centre of Lancefield.
Asked if Lancefield could again be threatened once the wind changed, Mr Ferguson said it remained possible.
‘‘That’s one of the things strategically we are looking at, where this fire may burn.
‘‘That’s why we are putting every effort into pulling it up now … it’s going to be very important.’’
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning chief fire officer Allan Goodwin received a barrage of complaints from residents angry about the cause of the blaze but maintained significant planning went into the planned burn.
He denied claims that the fire had been unattended due to last Friday’s public holiday.
Macedon Labor MP Mary-Anne Thomas summed up the view of many when she stated ‘‘what has happened is completely unacceptable’’ before backing a full, independent investigation that has been ordered by the water minister.
Up to two public meetings could be scheduled for Thursday.
A recovery centre will be open at the Lancefield Mechanics Institute, corner High Street and The Crescent, from 4-6pm Wednesday and from 10am-4pm on Thursday and Friday.
It will be staffed by Macedon Ranges council and other support agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services.
