Lakes Entrance Fire Brigade and Toorloo Arm Fire Brigade were paged to an escaped burn off last Monday evening adjacent to the Princes Highway at Lake Bunga.
Upon arrival crews were faced with two separate fires backing their way up the gully towards the roadway.
The job grew in complexity due to the incline of the gully where the fires were located and the decision was made that containment rather than extinguishment was the preferred method of attack.
As a result, additional resources were called for and due to the increasing number of firefighters and appliances the section of highway was closed while fire crews carried out burning out and containment operations.
The Princes Highway was closed in both directions between Lake Bunga Road and Lake Tyers Beach Road with a substantial amount of smoke in the area. Motorists were encouraged to avoid the area if possible, but an alternative route was established along Old Bunga Road through to Lake Tyers Beach Road.
Lakes Entrance CFA said this is a timely reminder that irrespective of recent rainfall and conditions, burn-offs must be supervised and landholders must make sure they have adequate means of extinguishment should something go wrong.
“The takeaway from this is for residents and landholders not to be complacent when burning off,” Third Lieutenant at Lakes Entrance Fire Brigade Ryan Fordham said.
“In this case the burn off escaped by spreading in the dead understory of Kikuyu grass.
“A big thank you to all the brigades who came to support us, and another big thank you to Bairnsdale Fire Brigade for stepping their vehicle up and manning our station in our absence,” Ryan said.
