Status Update
We woke this morning to news that the death toll had risen to 26 overnight although this is expected to rise to over 40 with unconfirmed reports of missing loved ones, I pray it does not. Edit: as of Noon today the death toll has risen to 35.
The good news of the morning is that the weather conditions are considered moderate today, which will only help with the fire fighting. Our fire is holding behind contaignment lines and has been since sometime during the night as I understand it, its just a matter of trying to control it now, although there seems no time to relax since fires are so unpredictable. It also appears that the fire at Rededale is also behind contaignment lines so with any luck and continued water bombing the firies at both fires will be able to make some progress instead of just having to slug it out to maintain status quo.
Unfortunately the good news ends there as the Kilmore fire has only gotten worse over night according to my FIL and local reports.
Incident Information
The Kilmore fire is now impacting on the Glenburn area, in particular Glenburn and settlements to the North and North East along the Melba Hwy and Yea River Valley towards Murrindindi. There is now active fire around the Glenburn area and residents can expect thick smoke and ember attack. All residents in these areas are advised to activate their fire plans immediately and to remain on high alert.
The Murrindindi Mill fire continues to burn in a north easterly direction and there continues to be active fire south of Taggerty, including in the vicinity of Cathedral Lane. DSE and CFA fire crews are continuing to hold their lines south of Taggerty.
The Taggerty Telephone Exchange has been destroyed by fire and landline phones are not working south of Taggerty. The mobile phone network is experiencing high demand and it may be difficult to get through on it also.
The northern edge of the Murrindindi fire has been divided into a number of divisions and resources are being deployed also to areas between Alexandra and the settlements of Eildon and Molesworth to protect assets and to ascertain the fire's edge.
Wind changes over the next few hours are likely to lead to increased fire activity in affected areas. Work on the construction of a fire break around the town of Alexandra is almost complete. Residents away from home should not try to return to the area as access is limited and the roads may not be safe due to falling trees, thick smoke and there is still active fire in many areas. Dangerous trees will continue to be a hazard for the next few weeks.
Residents cannot rely on fire-fighting resources being able to get to their property.
Residents should be aware of the following road closures in the area: Melba Hwy to the south of Yea, Whittlesea - Yea Road between Yea and Whittlesea.
Decide now if you are going to stay or go. Remember that it is very dangerous to leave late with a fire in the area. Road use in the area will be extremely hazardous due to low visibility from smoke. Watch out for fallen trees, power lines, abandoned cars, wildlife and emergency services vehicles.
Residents in this area may experience smoke and burning embers reaching their properties, and are advised to patrol their houses to find and put out any burning embers that may be landing.
Further update on the Marysville township:
We understand that everyone is safe in Marysville and are assembled at Gallipoli Park. Emergency response crews are working on getting emergency services into the town; however crews were experiencing difficulty gaining access to the town due to trees falling across the road. People are reminded to remain at Gallipoli Park until advised by DSE or CFA authorities that it is safe to leave. Vic SES and the Red Cross delivered food and drink to the residents and fire fighters who are sheltering at the Gallipoli Park relief centre early this morning. Residents will be escorted from the area when it is safe to do so.
Despite the fact that our country experiances bush fires in some capacity every year, it just a little surreal to read things like that and be directly affected as we are or know people that are directly affected as we do. I have never had quite the understanding for the seriousness of events like these as I do today. I guess that's what happens when it your experiance steps outside the intellectual exercise it once was. News reports keep repeating that these fires are worse than the ones experianced during the Ash Wednesday Fires, I just hope the death toll isn't. My thoughts and prayers today are not only to my own loved ones in the line of fire and our hardworking firefighters but also to those families that have lost someone so tragically and to those who still don't know the status of loved ones. We can only hope that today ends better than yesterday.