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Fire rages in South Australia as threat eases in Victoria

Updated 8am AEDT

An emergency warning has been issued for residents in a second area near the Bangor bushfire in South Australia’s Southern Flinders Range.

The CFS issued the warning at 1729 (CDT) on Tuesday repeating the warning this morning, saying a serious bushfire was burning out of control near Curtis Road, King Tree Road, Charcoal Road and Marner Road.

The uncontrolled scrub fire is travelling north towards the communities in the Wirrabara Forest and Wirrabara Township.

 

There is a risk to lives and homes.

The CFS earlier issued an emergency warning about another serious Bangor fire burning out of control near Horrocks Highway, north of Laura and south of Wirrabara.

It is travelling east towards Stone Hut.

 

Victorian fires ease, but worst still to come

Victoria’s bushfire threat has eased but authorities fear the worst is yet to come with a scorching dry summer to continue for weeks before it fades.

At least 34 homes have been destroyed in the state’s latest fire emergency, which began on Sunday. But that number is expected to rise in the coming days.

 

Hundreds of firefighters are taking advantage of calmer conditions as they try to extinguish 18 blazes still burning across Victoria.

The emergency warnings for the Mickleham/Kilmore fire, north of Melbourne and in East Gippsland have been downgraded.

Overnight, 250 firefighters worked to control the fire, which has burned more than 23,000 hectares.

However, the Country Fire Authority says residents in those areas should still remain alert.

The fire is still active and the situation could change quickly.

The blazes have destroyed 34 houses across Victoria and damaged another 20.

The CFA’s Michael Hodder says the focus today is trying to get people back into their homes.

“The focus will be on clearing hazardous trees particularly along roads so people can return home.

“That is blacking out. They’ll continue to do that too so they can set up containment lines.”

Police have arrested and charged a man with arson over a fire that was lit in Melbourne’s north on Sunday afternoon.

He will face court later today.

Residents return to Kilmore

Emergency services are trying to clear trees from roads in Melbourne’s north so residents can return home after a fire destroyed at least 12 houses in the area.

The immediate emergency has eased for communities around the Mickleham Kilmore fire with it not expected to impact on any townships but authorities warn the situation could change quickly.

Deputy incident controller John Leben said easing fire conditions meant crews could now access fire-affected areas with the aim of opening roads so residents could return home.

“We’ve got many, many dangerous trees right around the fire area and particularly along roads. Roads in these areas burnt are very, very dangerous,” Mr Leben said.

“It’s important to recognise the danger doesn’t pass when the fire does.”

A falling tree limb hit a firetruck on Monday evening but none of the crew was injured.

Mr Leben said fire crews, local government authorities and VicRoads began assessing and clearing dangerous trees at first light on Wednesday.

Assessment teams are tallying the losses of homes, outbuildings, fences and community infrastructure, a task that will continue into Thursday.

Health concerns around the smoke haze from the bushfires was also expected to remain for vulnerable people like children and the elderly.

VFF sets up fodder drive for farms affected by fire

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has set up a fodder drive to supply feed to farmers burnt out by the fires.

The president of the VFF, Peter Tuohey, says it will be weeks or months before burnt pastures start to recover.

He says farmers now have the difficult task of destroying and disposing of burnt animals.

“The major concern we have at the moment is (for the) welfare of livestock,” he said.

“Certainly there are quite large numbers of livestock have been destroyed but we’re trying to set up depots throughout the Gippsland to manage the remainder of livestock that are going to be short on feed.”

Mr Tuohey says some of the farmers are suffering the effects of smoke inhalation from fighting the fires.

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