there wont be much bush left soon!
Three homes destroyed by blaze
March 12, 2006 - 8:52PM
Three homes have been destroyed by a bushfire in central Victoria.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) state coordinator Graham Fountain said the houses were close to where the blaze began this afternoon.
"Unfortunately, we have had confirmation that we've potentially lost up to three houses as a result of this fire," he told ABC radio.
A CFA spokeswoman later confirmed three houses had been destroyed but said no one had been injured.
The fire, near Snake Valley, has burned about 800 hectares and placed several towns at risk.
A wind change at about 7pm (AEDT) meant the fire threatened the towns of Scarsdale, Smythesdale and Snake Valley, in addition to towns already at risk.
Earlier today, the CFA warned the towns of Newtown, Italian Gully, Golden Lake, Happy Valley, Piggoreet and Staffordshire Reef were under threat.
"The wind change has come through now, and the fire is behaving quite erratically," a CFA spokesman said at 8pm (AEDT).
He said a smoke warning had been issued to
Ballarat residents, who had been asked to stay indoors with the windows shut, especially people with respiratory conditions.
He also appealed to
Ballarat residents to refrain from calling triple-0 if they smelt smoke, as authorities are aware of the fire. .
About 250 Country Fire Authority (CFA) firefighters, aided by 59 tankers and six aircraft, are battling the fire burning through up to 1,000 hectares of bush and grassland.
"There are houses in the area, and the residents need to know they are at risk of ember attack," a CFA spokesman said.
The fire started on the Mortchup-Snake Valley Road at 3.30pm (AEDT) and firefighters are yet to determine the cause.
On a day of total fire ban, and temperatures have reached the mid-30s in the affected area today.
The Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE) said campers had been evacuated from a reserve in Victoria's north-east amid fears they could hinder firefighters battling another blaze, in the River Murray Reserve.
A DSE spokeswoman said campers at Trues Beach had been relocated to other campsites in the area.
They were asked to move today as firefighters fought a blaze at Nevins East, about 12km north-east of Yarrawonga.
"The public has also been told to please stay out of the area," said a DSE spokeswoman.
The fire was contained about 6pm (AEDT).
Another fire, at
Granite Creek in Victoria's east, has burned about 100ha and was yet to be contained at 6.30pm (AEDT).
The fire has cut off the communities of Goongerah,
Bendoc,
Bonang from Orbost to the south.
People have been asked not to enter the area and the fire is being fought by 41 personnel, four tankers, two fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter.