A Watch and Act warning has been issued this afternoon (3pm Thursday 27 Sept) for a 730 hectare fire burning in the Loch Sport area.
District: 10
Brigades: Loch Sport, Golden Beach, Sale, Longford, Seaspray
DSE crews fighting the fire on public land are backed up by 10 CFA tankers. Our first crews were on scene just after midnight last night. They were replaced by a strike team at midday with the next strike team replacement at 8pm. One helicopter bomber and one fixed wing aircraft are also assisting with the firefight.
“The fire is going in spurts because of the variable coastal winds,” explains Operations Officer Paul Fixter working out of the Heyfield Incident Control Centre at the DSE office. “At the moment it’s Level 2 but it will move to Level 3 because it’s a protracted event.
“Our crews are working intensely with DSE building mineral earth control lines around the SP Ausnet and Esso valve site assets. We expect them to be in place by about 4.30pm which is about the time we’re expecting the wind change. The weather is going to be more favourable overnight. Our crews are also doing some direct attack and mopping up.
“The main issue has been the dense coastal vegetation but we’ve had the benefit of a lot of previous DSE burns done in the area."
No towns are under threat but locals will see smoke in the area. The 1.18pm Watch and act message applies to the towns of Loch Sport, Seacombe, Golden Beach, Loch Sport Spoon Bay Track and the Loch Sport Road.
The Loch Sport Road (main road) is currently open and being controlled by Victoria Police.
Photos courtesy of the Fireready app, @tpwkelly on Twitter, Adam Townsend - CFA Photographer, and Chris Gallagher.
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