Articles tagged: Bushfire
High fire risks across Otways during summer
The eastern Otways look set for an increased risk of bushfire this coming fire season, with a late-season fire risk across south-west Victoria.
REBUILD BLOW: Extra building red tape could stall fire recovery
A SEPARATION CREEK resident says the State Government’s new fire ratings for the coastal community are “worse than horrific” and could stop landowners rebuilding.
WHERE’S THE MONEY? Slow rebuild process frustrates fire victim
SEPARATION CREEK resident Peter Jacobs says he’s disappointed with the bushfire recovery process and the lack of support from authorities.
ACTION NEEDED: MP takes aim at fire clean up
CORANGAMITE MP Sarah Henderson has hit out at the State Government after Wye River and Separation Creek residents expressed concerns about the bushfire recovery process.
Tourism returns to fire-affected towns
WYE General Store’s manager says the re-opening of the Great Ocean Road has helped trading and getting residents back on their feet.
Residents access parts of fire-affected Wye River
PARTS of Wye River began re-opening to residents yesterday, nine days after the Christmas Day bushfire destroyed 116 homes on the Otway coast.
Lorne swim to go ahead despite fire threat
LORNE Pier to Pub officials are confident the famous ocean swim will go ahead next Saturday despite a constant fire threat surrounding the coastal town.
Prime Minister vows to back firefighting during visit to Wye River
PRIME MINISTER Malcolm Turnbull has committed funding to keep water-carrying aircraft in the region for an “extended period” to fight ongoing bushfires.
Otway community’s darkest Christmas
THE BLAZE which destroyed 116 homes on Christmas Day is “still a big fire with a lot of potential”, a top firefighter has warned.
Community unites to help evacuated people
Apollo Bay and coastal communities for banded together to help people evacuated during the Christmas Day fires.
Crews working on fires
FIREFIGHTERS will continue to monitor two fires burning near Lorne over the Christmas break with temperatures set to rise again.
Lightning sparks fires in remote Otway bush
FIREFIGHTING aircraft spent the weekend water bombing blazes in the Great Otway National Park near Lorne with government fire crews remaining on alert yesterday.
Parched spring sparks concern
FIREFIGHTERS have fought almost 50 grass and scrub fires in Colac and district since September as the Otways had their driest spring on record.
Volunteer shares vivid memories
A COLAC and district firefighter remembers the eerie feeling the morning of one of the Otway’s darkest days.
District fire officers head to Canada
NINE south-west Victorian firefighters are travelling to Canada to help fight hundreds of forest fires burning in the country’s west.
Lavers Hill is priority for next fire refuge
EMERGENCY Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley says the next community fire refuge the State Government builds will be at Lavers Hill.
Lavers Hill residents want cash for refuge
LAVERS HILL residents “urgently” need the State Government to fund a community fire refuge which could save hundreds of lives when the Otways face a firestorm.
640-hectare burnoff today at Barongarook
AUTHORITIES plan to ignite a 640-hectare burnoff today at Barongarook, south of Colac.
Lightning cuts electricity and causes Otways fires
THOUSANDS of Colac and district residents were without power for up to two days after a lightning storm swept the region and damaged powerlines and transformers.
District prepares for total fire bans and summer heat
TODAY is a day of total fire ban for Colac and south-west Victoria, with another ban likely for Saturday as temperatures soar.
Fire season plans swing into action
Colac district’s fire season plans are in full flight with a multi-agency training day boosting crews’ preparations.
Tennis court proposal as bushfire last resort
A TENNIS court and community parks could become last-resort options for Colac district people caught in a bushfire.
New fire rules threaten Otways residents
CONTROVERSIAL planning rules could leave Otways and coastal residents homeless and stop them rebuilding if bushfire destroys their homes.
One fire refuge but more still needed
COLAC Otway Shire has its first last-resort bushfire refuge at Apollo Bay but high-risk towns are still going without.
