Vic: Firefighters suffer burns as hunt steps up for arsonists

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2006
Vic: Firefighters suffer burns as hunt steps up for arsonists

By Julie Tullberg and Jane Williams

MELBOURNE, Dec 16 AAP - Nine "experienced" New Zealand firefighters were injured, one
seriously, as they fought a campground blaze in Victoria's north-east today.

One firefighter, aged 42, has serious burns to his airways, two others suffered burns
to the face and hands, and six have minor injuries.

The team of nine New Zealand firefighters were battling a blaze at the Tobacco Flat
campgrounds at Howqua Valley in the Mansfield area about 2.30pm (AEDT) today when they
were caught in a burn-over.

The seriously injured firefighter and two others were airlifted to Melbourne's The
Alfred hospital. All were reported as stable.

In a joint statement, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Country
Fire Authority (CFA) said the firefighters were experienced.

"This incident involved nine very experienced firefighters, two of whom were with us
in the 2003 Alpine fires," DSE chief officer Ewan Waller said.

He said the incident highlighted the dangers of bushfire fighting.

"Every endeavour is made to ensure that our firefighters are not placed in situations
where their safety is at risk, but bushfire fighting will always be dangerous.

"... we are concerned and dismayed at this incident, involving our colleagues from New Zealand."

About 45 firefighters arrived from New Zealand on December 7 and were dispatched to
Victoria's north-east.

Their spokesman Ian Millman said after their arrival that some members of the team
had already experienced a Victorian bushfire season.

"We're quite fortunate this round that we have at least one person in each crew that
was back here in the Alpine fires from 2003, so that gives them an insight," he told the
ABC.

Mr Waller said the three men airlifted to hospital were all stable and it was expected
they would be released within two to three days.

The other six were being treated locally with minor injuries and would be released
within 24 hours, he said.

The incident came as Victoria's arson squad intensified its hunt for the firebugs believed
responsible for a bushfire in the state's south-east which caused the death of a volunteer
firefighter this week.

Victoria Police have eliminated two teenage suspects who were seen near the Cooper
Creek blaze on Thursday.

Donald Dosser, 48, was killed when he was run over by a fire truck as he helped fight
the fire which razed 11 homes, 58 barns and sheds and a school camp.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Katherine Jess said investigators were satisfied the two
teenagers, who were originally suspects of the arson attack, were locals going fishing.

"Police are urging residents to contact police or Crime Stoppers if they witnessed
any suspicious activity around the Rawson/Tyers Road on Thursday, 14 December between
10.30 and 11.30am," she said.

Meanwhile, DSE crews at Coopers Creek near Walhalla are building a control line along
the south-west edge of the fire.

A DSE back-burn is now generating smoke in the area, which has forced the closure of
Tyers/Walhalla Road. Cowwarr Road also is closed.

In Tasmania, firefighters today took advantage of milder conditions to strengthen containment
lines in the state's north-east.

Fires, which have burnt out about 20,000ha of bushland and an estimated 60 buildings,
lost momentum as winds eased.

Police said the list of damaged property in the state was expected to grow as reports
of shacks and outhouses lost in remote areas were registered with local authorities.

Armed with weather bureau predictions of worsening conditions on Monday, firefighters
today prepared by back-burning and putting in fire breaks around Scamander and Four Mile
Creek.

Crews also continued to patrol the Kellevie fire in the state's south-east.

AAP jat/nf

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC NIGHTLEAD

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.