MELBOURNE - Fire crews have performed extensive backburning operations around two bushfires in Victoria's east ahead of worsening weather conditions expected tomorrow and on Thursday.
Bushfires near Bruthen and Tambo Creek in Victoria's south-east yesterday crossed into private property.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) state duty officerDennis Ward said hot, gusty northerly winds and temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s were expected across Victoria tomorrow and on Thursday.
The tiny town of Tambo Crossing is on alert this morning as a 10,000ha fire rages west of the town.
"There's been a lot of work there. This is one of our challenging situations at the moment, particularly around Tambo Crossing. There is a threat alert there at present," Ward said.
"There has been backburning to the west of Tambo Crossing overnight and also backburning north of Bruthen.
"There has been about 20km of backburning overnight as crews continue to work to strengthen and deepen containment lines ahead of the weather on Wednesday and Thursday."
DSE and Country Fire Authority crews have also been backburning - using controlled fires to destroy bush and create fire breaks - around a 2140ha fire in forest country at Boulder Creek, between Orbost and Cann River.
"That presents a bit of a challenge for us, a threat for us, particularly with the weather that has been forecast," Ward said.
"We're expecting very hot and dry weather with very gust north to north-west winds."
Major bushfires, started by lightning last month, continue to rage in Victoria's east and north-east.
The Great Divide North and Great Divide South fires combined have burned more than 903,000ha of bush in Victoria's high country.
