Bushfire toll climbs as crews battle blazes across Victoria
February 9, 2009 - 6:28AM

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The death toll in the Victorian bushfires has risen to 108, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) says.

Firefighters have worked through the night to battle dozens of fires that continue to burn across the state.

Kinglake 'fireball': survivors' tales

Survivors of the Kinglake fire converge at the Whittlesea community activity centre to recount stories of daring escape.

The death toll was updated from the previous figure of 93 released by police at 2am, but DSE spokesman Geoff Russell was unable to say where the bodies had been found.

Mr Russell said conditions this morning had improved from the weekend with a cooler change coming through with moist air.

A southerly wind is pushing fires in a north to northeasterly direction.

"Our biggest concern at the moment is around Beechworth,'' Mr Russell said.

The fire has skirted Beechworth and is heading towards Yackandandah.

"There are seven or eight small settlements in the path of this fire and those residents have been urged to get their fire plans underway,'' Mr Russell said.

There were 31 active fires across the state as of 5.30am on Monday, the DSE and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said.

At least 750 homes have been destroyed and more than 330,000ha burnt out, while authorities said some fires could take weeks to contain.

The fire front has crossed the Yackandandah-Dederang Rd into the Mt Big Ben area, a joint DSE and CFA statement said.

The latest death toll, announced by the DSE at 6am this morning, surpasses the toll from the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia, and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71.

The Murrindindi Mill fire has so far burned up to 93,000ha and is still burning in a northeasterly direction.

Firefighters are working hard to construct and consolidate containment lines around the west side of Black Range back to the original fire source, the statement said.

Strike teams are also working between Buxton, Marysville and Narbethong to clear access along roadsides into properties.

Community meetings are expected to be held in Yea and Broadford on Monday.

The DSE and CFA said the spread of fire in the Bunyip Ridge area has been halted, but authorities warned that there may still be increased amounts of smoke in the area and local road use could be hazardous.

The Princes Highway has reopened with reduced speed limits.

Fires have also broken out near Noojee, Erica and in Wilsons Promontory National Park and Little Desert National Park but neither fire is threatening communities at this stage, the DSE and CFA said.

Ninety-two firefighters from Tasmania will arrive to help the firefighting effort on Monday morning, in addition to the 150 NSW firefighters currently helping fight the Beechworth fires.

While the weather has cooled across most of Victoria, authorities warn that there remains a very high risk of bushfire.

CFA state duty officer Mark Glover said firefighters were focused on protecting communities and assets as a priority.

"It may not always be possible for fire authorities to give warnings and people need to activate their fire plans early," Mr Glover said on Monday.

DSE state duty officer Graeme Davis urged people to stay away from fire-ravaged areas.

"Residents in fire-affected areas and those planning to visit these regions should stay away until fire agencies advise it's safe to return," Mr Davis said.

He said a number of roads had been closed as a safety precaution to protect people from being caught in a bushfire.

Mr Davis said there were smoky conditions in a number of areas and people with lung or heart conditions, the elderly and children who are in areas affected by smoke should take their medication, limit physical activity and reduce time spent outdoors.

Emergency relief centres are operating in a number of locations.

Nearly 40 schools in West Gippsland, central and South Gippsland are closed due to fire.

People wanting information on the Victorian fires and general fire safety can contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on freecall 1800 240 667.

Anyone concerned about family and friends in the fire areas are advised to call the National Registry Inquiry Service on 1800 727 077.

AAP

Some images

TG

I am very sorry to see the news of the Victoria bush fires and the lives lost.

I understand it is cooling a little from the 47C recorded today, and a number of the fires are under control. However, much more needs to be done and the wind is rising again.

I hope things work out OK, and the death toll does not rise much more.

Death toll now closing in on 200 with estimates indicating way over that amount as burnt out houses are investigated.

Video stories

Just to show how close to home this has hit....three people at my work of 20 have been directly affected by the fires.

One has been out for the past 3 days at his nephews and surrounding houses putting out spot fires around the houses as burning embers fell from the sky. He saw the smoke from the start of one of the main fires approx 2km away turn into a raging fire within minutes and shoot up a hill, luckily away from him. This fire appears to have been deliberately lit and is the one that has killed the majority of people.

One has friends who have had family members killed, including one where both children died but the parents survived.

One who watched the fires go passed his house approximately 2km to 5km away. He was lucky in that his area is more suburban than partially bush. The photo below was taken from a road near his house and was basically the view from his lounge window. Ironically this is looking towards Mt Disappointment....


All these people live less than an hours drive from the centre of Melbourne.

A few more images from the Courier Mail.

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

It's not just the human tragedy...

Yes TGG, that is one oft the stories and photos in the UK daily newspapers.

There must have been millions of animals destroyed, and, where it is suspected, down to some butchering arsonists.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7884868.stm

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Don't drink water, that's the stuff that rusts pipes

That photo and video were not taken on Saturday but the week before at another fire. This link shows some photos of a heat stressed koala during the heat wave that hit Victoria the week before the fires where we had three days straight of temperatures over 43°C in Melbourne and temperatures in parts of the state hit over 46°C.

There are estimates that over a million animals in the bush have died in the past 10 days.

There is a colony of fruit bats that fly over my house every night in search of food. It is believed 1000 of them died during the recent heat waves.

The drinking koala was on the front page of our local newspaper here, too! ;-)

But it's so sad to know that for many (humans and animals) every rescue attempt came too late or was just not possible. :-(
And it is really hard to believe that there are incendiaries out there... how can anyone dare to make this tragedy even worse???

At least the little koala is a shiny symbol of hope, that's why everybody loves the cute little one I guess. ;-)

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Lovely greetings, Cori

That koala was on Norwegian TV too.. Its a sweet reminder that
even the smallest can survive the battlefield.

Im very sorry for what has happend in Australia. My thoughts
to all those who are affected of the tragedy.