Vic: 40 "safer places" designated as fires burn in state's east

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2009
Vic: 40 "safer places" designated as fires burn in state's east

By Michelle Draper

MELBOURNE, Dec 24 AAP - Victoria now has 40 official neighbourhood "safer places" for
people to turn to as a last resort in a bushfire.

The updated figures, obtained from the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) on Thursday,
came as fires continued to burn out of control in the state's east.

Campers were evacuated at Wingan Inlet in the Croajingolong National Park as a precaution
on Thursday morning while firefighters battled to contain a 76 hectare blaze.

However, they were allowed to return to continue their Christmas celebrations in the afternoon.

"All the camping areas in Croajingolong National Park are now open," a Department of
Sustainability and Environment spokeswoman told AAP.

About six fires burned in the East Gippsland area on Thursday, although most were within
containment lines.

The spokeswoman said nine aircraft worked to extinguish the out-of-control blaze 23km
north of Cann River.

Heavy machinery and fire crews worked to construct control lines around the fire perimeter.

The major concern for firefighters was the threat of a northerly wind which could push
the fire beyond containment lines and towards the Princes Highway, but the threat eased
later on Thursday.

Meanwhile, MAV chief executive Rob Spence said local councils were pushing through
approvals of safer places which had been assessed by the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

Mr Spence said on Thursday that 40 neighbourhood safer places had been officially designated
by councils across 15 municipalities.

There are 21 high-fire risk towns with one or more neighbourhood safer places but 18
towns in the same category are still without a designated place of last resort, he said.

The City of Greater Bendigo, which has designated seven neighbourhood safer places,
has started sign-posting them.

Mayor Rod Campbell said the sites were only to be used as a last resort.

"But we do believe that they are an important tool when it comes to being vigilant
during the bushfire season," he said in a statement.

He said the locations all had buildings or spaces that could offer some protection
from radiant heat, the biggest killer during bushfires.

The list of neighbourhood safer places can be found on the CFA website.

AAP md/jpm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC WRAP

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