Burns ‘go on’ despite escape

Alex de Vos
Authorities have announced further controlled burning around the Geelong region this week despite “erratic fire behaviour” wiping out 39 hectares of bushland on Tuesday.
Department of Sustainability and Environment’s burn controller Andrew Morrow said authorities experienced “a little break out” during a controlled 1075Ha burn near Airey’s Inlet.
He said the fire had jumped control lines, drawing up “a lot” of smoke which was visible from Geelong’s bypass.
The break out, which ignited near Bambra, razed an area 16 times the size of the MCG.
Mr Morrow praised authorities for quickly reining in the blaze.
“It’s under control now,” he told the Independent on Wednesday.
“Crews are in the blacking out and mopping up phase and there’s a little bit of smoke coming up today but it’s nothing to be alarmed about. We’re very happy with the result.”
Mr Morrow said “favourable” conditions had prompted authorities to launch a program of controlled burns earlier this year despite temperatures in the region this week nudging 30C.
“We started earlier than last year because we’ve had some good rain through the middle of February and there’s a lot of moisture in the ground,” he said.
The department planned to burn 1065Ha off Sharps Road, just west of Lorne and 25Ha near Big Hill on the Great Ocean Road.
Mr Morrow said the department also planned to burn 24Ha at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve adjacent to Grubb Road and about 80Ha near Lorne’s golf course.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said she was “appalled” at the escape of Tuesday’s burn-off.
“The area behind Airey’s Inlet is miles too big to burn from an ecological point of view,” Ms Lindros said.
“It was most disappointing to see it out of control.”