Emergency warnings for fires in Victoria's East Gippsland region have been downgraded, with firefighters planning to take advantage of mild conditions to strengthen containment lines.
Emergency warnings for fires in Victoria's East Gippsland region have been downgraded, with firefighters planning to take advantage of mild conditions to strengthen containment lines.
The bushfires, which have been burning since November 21, flared up on Saturday after a cool change passed through, bringing dry lightning strikes. Emergency warnings were issued for the towns of Brookville, Ensay, Stirling, Tambo Crossing and Wattle Circle but have since been downgraded to watch and act level.
"Weather conditions have now changed with the wind and temperature dropping reducing fire behaviour," Emergency Management Victoria said of the out-of-control fire near Brookville, about 390 kilometres east of Melbourne."This means embers are no longer being driven by strong winds ahead of the main fire and the forward movement of the fire front has slowed."
A relief centre has been set up at the Omeo Memorial Hall, 60 kilometres north, for people affected while generators will be set up on Sunday to restore power and services to the area.More than 500 firefighters on the ground and in the air have been working in the area to contain the fires, which are concentrated in steep and largely inaccessible terrain.
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