Ongoing fires

North of the Western Highway looking south to the Grampians, 10pm on 18th

How un-prophetic my post from Thursday 14th now appears
This morning DSE & Parks Victoria advised that multiple fires (14) occurred due to lightning strikes in the Grampians National Park area. All fires are small and not posing any threats to park visitors or adjoining landholders. The fires are being controlled by DSE and Parks Victoria crews supported by water bombing aircraft. The fires were started by lightning, and are located in the Mt William, Victoria Valley, and Mt Abrupt areas. More lightning activity is expected this afternoon and overnight.

In the Southern Grampians, on Saturday 16th

The Victoria Valley Complex as it is now named, is currently 14,600 hectares and still out of control. There are 71 units including aerial appliances fighting the fire.

The smoke trapped in a inversion layer on 16th, south of Glenisla

 After a number of the the small lightning strike fires joined up, they threatened Mirranatwa, then after the cool change brought on a new wind direction the fire roared up the Victoria Valley and into the Victoria Range, it is now threatening the Glenisla and Woohlpooer Forest areas. News Flash - the Henty Highway has just been closed.

Long exposure looking back to the Grampians, 11:15pm on 17th

 Again I've included some of Lynton Brown's photos, as he's making numerous drives out to the area. Below is one that seems to typify these fires - CFA volunteers watch a helicopter water-bomb the fire as it nears private property in the Southern Grampians on Monday 18th (the property was saved).

 

A map representation from the CFA Country Fire Authority of the Grampians fire (as at 19th). 
The Blue symbol = Controlled, Yellow + Contained, and Red = Going. 
The fire is now breaking out of the range and national park and heading west to threaten private land and the Henty Highway (the red line).


The Grampians fires are not the largest bushfire in Victoria at present. From the CFA's site on 10th, the map below gives you an idea of the size of the Aberfeldy fire (currently over 82,000 hectares) here's how it would look if it was across Melbourne.

 

By today, the Aberfeldy-Donnellys Fire has burnt through approximately 84,860ha, has a 388 km perimeter and has now been burning for 32 days. DSE, CFA, Parks Victoria and NSW Rural Fire Service personnel continue to work to control this fire. The fire will continue to burn within control lines into the coming weeks.The aim of the authorities is to secure control lines and complete burning around the Licola Valley to protect private property. Currently there are 258 personnel, 6 tankers and 63 slip-ons and 23 bulldozers working. CFA and DSE crews are based in Licola.

Images from Crusty's mobile phone

Crews from the Southern Grampians Shire area - Penshurst and Grange brigades protecting some of the historic huts in danger from the Aberfeldy fire. Here, near Licola, smoke from the fire is visible in the fold of the valley beyond.

 

Infrared camera image for identifying fire hotspots (from CFA)

On the 8th February, this fire at  Mt Arapiles didn't even seem to rate a mention in the news. CFA crews stopped this fire on Friday, less than 100 metres from the forest flanking Mt Arapiles. 

Aerial shot from the CFA