Out of control: CFA attend a burn-off gone wrong
Photo by
Echuca CFA
Echuca was barely a day out of the fire-danger period when volunteer firefighters were been confronted by a burn-off that had spiralled out of control.
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On Tuesday, March 29, brigades from across Campaspe were called to a fire on Stratton Rd in Echuca west, where a large, registered burn-off had turned from safe to out of control.
Units from Echuca, Echuca Village, Bamawm Extension and Torrumbarry reached the property about 6.20pm to find it spreading in every direction, including through a tree line onto a neighbouring property.
“This is a timely reminder for all people in our area to know that even though it’s no longer a fire danger period, there is still a risk,” Echuca CFA third lieutenant Alex Green said.
Mr Green said there were still many factors that could contribute to fires in the region.
“We haven’t had good rain for a while and there is a significant fuel load around Echuca,” he said.
Smoky: A CFA fire truck travels through hazy smoke at the scene.
Photo by
Echuca CFA
The fire on Stratton Rd took a while to contain as it had spread widely by the time the first trucks arrived.
A large woodpile at the corner of one paddock closest to the houses and sheds were burnt as a result.
Once it was under control all the brigades spent some time skirting the edge of the burnt area looking for hot spots — and we concentrated on the burnt trees and a large woodpile, which had also started to burn,“ Mr Green said.
“We strongly recommend people still register their burns, and follow all the CFA recommendations listed on the website, that way their local fire brigade is aware of exactly what’s happening.”
Echuca CFA has advised farmers to have water and resources readily accessible when burning off, as a precautionary measure, in case things do ever get out of hand.
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