Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 3127
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Wednesday,February January 12, 13, 2025 2016 Wednesday,
FANTASY: Serviceton Railway Station lent its historic appeal to a Wimmera Steampunk Festival photoshoot on Sunday; its representation of a bygone era of blacksmiths, steam engines and saddleries a unique and fitting backdrop for this year’s ‘Carnival of Peculiarities’ event theme. From left, Cassandra Krahe, Claire James, Barb Jeffries, Tom Fax, Sokan Sat and Shelley Fax were part of the photoshoot that will be used to promote the festival in coming weeks. Story, page 3. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Fire risk remains B
BY LAUREN HENRY
oth the Grampians and Little Desert fires are contained but firefighters remain on high alert with an increased risk of fire danger in the region today and tomorrow.
While declared contained on Sunday, firefighting management consider the fires not yet under control. There is still fire smoldering and falling trees between the control lines, and firefighters have continued to work on treating hazardous trees, monitoring hot spots and consolidat-
ing containment lines this week in preparation for the increased risk of fire danger. Conditions over the next few days are expected to include strong winds from the south and warm to hot conditions. Deputy incident controller Dave Stephens, from Horsham Incident Control Centre, said the fires were not spreading, but still burning within the fire perimeter. “The Grampians complex of fires and Little Desert fire are currently contained. That does not mean they’re under control,” he said.
“With the fire behaviour indices possibly increasing on Wednesday and Thursday, fire agencies will patrol and monitor the fires.” Hundreds of emergency services personnel, including crews on the ground, in the air and in the control centres, remain in the Wimmera to oversee the fires. Both fires, which started from dry lightning on January 27, have required the largest firefighting response remembered in the region. The Little Desert fire spread quickly within the first couple of days, requiring the evacuation of Dimboola and
other nearby communities and threatening many other surrounding towns as it burnt more than 95,000 hectares. Accommodation and venue business the Little Desert Nature Lodge, one home and two outbuildings burnt in the fire. Two separate Grampians fires – Wallaby Rocks and the Victoria Valley – merged with the original Yarram Gap Road fire, which started on December 17, 2024, The Wallaby Rocks section of the fire was contained on February 8 with more than 59,000 hectares burnt. The Yarram Gap Road section, con-
tained on January 6 and declared under control on January 13, has a fire footprint circumference of 422 kilometres, burning more than 76,000 hectares of national park and agricultural land. The Grampians fires claimed four residential properties, 40 outbuildings, and significant stock losses. The Henty Highway between Horsham and Cavendish reopened on Monday, but due to fire damage, the speed limit is reduced to an 80-kilometre limit in some areas. Continued page 12
IN THIS ISSUE • New roundabout proposal • Foundation ball raises $27,000 • Sports Star of the Year awards Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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