Articles tagged: fires
Monitor burn-off piles, avoid flare ups: fire authority
CFA has issued a reminder to residents across south-west Victoria to check burn-off piles and bonfires as old as six months, following recent flare ups in the region.
Tense time for Gellibrand family
Gellibrand resident Nicole Williams says it was a “miracle” that her family’s home and livestock were saved as bushfire activity surrounded their property.
Smoke, heat warning
With a little over a month of left of summer and the Otways fires only just contained, Colac district residents have been urged to take precautions in the heat and smoke.
Blueberry battle at fire front
By the time the worst of the fire was over on Tuesday, it had consumed bush on three sides of Wayne Knight’s blueberry farm at Gellibrand.
NO LIVES LOST: Firefighters still on ground as Otways blaze stabilises
Officials have praised the response of community members and emergency services following the worst bushfire conditions seen in the past decade.
Fire contained after structure, stock loss
A grass fire west of Cressy that spread dangerously earlier this week is now under control.
Resilience at Gellibrand
Chris Smith is one of many landowners who spent a scorching Tuesday defending their property from fire in Gellibrand.
Otways schools wait for safe return to classrooms
Schools across the Otways are facing uncertainty amid fire activity, with students originally set to commence term one this week.
‘Adrenaline kicks in’: Farming families unite
Farmers across the Kennedys Creek district have been praised for their efforts in containing a rapidly approaching bushfire.
Otways fire response continues
Firefighters are working to secure perimeters around two major Otways bushfires after a significant area of forest habitat has been destroyed.
Limited asset loss, bushland blaze burning
Officials say no homes have been lost in Otways fires, although machinery has been destroyed and boundaries burnt away.
Non-stop work for volunteers
Firefighting crews across the district are continuing to respond to the Otway Complex fires, putting everything on the line to keep their communities safe.
Community rallies to support fireys, families
Donations have been rolling in for families displaced by district blazes and firefighting outfits across the region.
District fatality victim identified
A local woman has died in a Colac district crash while trying to leave the area because of fires, police say.
Longtime resident reflects on fire evacuation
“I don’t think I remember them ever coming to the door before, in all of those 50 years.”
Flames reach Irrewillipe farmer’s boundary fence
Irrewillipe dairy farmer Ross Sheppard says he had prepared as much as he could when he watched the Otways fires reach his back fence.
New fire chief is ready to lead
New acting District Six assistant chief fire officer Peter Lockwood is settling into his role and is preparing to lead the region through drought and a potential early fire season.
Winter fire risk remains in south-west
An increased fire risk will remain for south-west Victoria during winter, with fire officials warning about the dangers of unattended burn-offs and campfires.
Fire forum draws local crowd
About 100 community members have heard from a bushfire forum in Colac.
Fire volunteers commended
After responding to more than 285 calls last year, the Colac Fire Brigade is looking ahead to new challenges and achievements in 2025.
District fire chiefs pleased with quiet season
The Colac district’s fire chiefs have praised volunteer firefighters and the local community for contributing to a relatively quiet Fire Danger Period, which officially ended yesterday.
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.
Great Ocean Road re-opens fully
THE GREAT Ocean Road reopened this morning to allow visitors to return to the region after, 12 days after fire destroyed 116 houses in the area.
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.
