Vic: Prom fire still burning after 13 days

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2005
Vic: Prom fire still burning after 13 days

By Julie Tullberg

MELBOURNE, April 15 AAP - Rain failed to reach Wilsons Promontory National Park in
south-east Victoria today, as a 13-day fire continued to smoulder through the bushland.

While Victoria received good rainfall today, Wilsons Promontory missed the downpour,
forcing two aircraft to spray hot spots near control lines.

About 100 fire crew are working to contain the bushfire that has burned through more
than 6,000 hectares in the national park.

The fire flared out of control on April 2 when strong winds fanned the flames of a
fuel reduction burnoff.

Parks Victoria incident controller David Nugent said despite missing the rain today,
weather conditions were favourable to firefighters, who were building a control line across
the `Prom'.

"If conditions are good, we're confident to complete the work of building the control
line on Sunday night," Mr Nugent said.

Mr Nugent said another crew of 50 firefighters would work on the control lines tomorrow,
in a bid to complete the 700m of the 18km firebreak.

He said he expected the park to open next week, signalling the end of a campaign that
has used up many firefighting resources.

Hundreds of campers were forced to take refuge on a beach at the height of the fire.

The opposition has criticised the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
for carrying out the fuel reduction burn at a time when the park was full of visitors.

Wilsons Promontory National Park, one of Australia's oldest national parks, is the
southernmost point on the Australian mainland.

AAP jat/snp/de

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC NIGHTLEAD

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.