Vic: Residents criticise escaped burn-off

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Vic: Residents criticise escaped burn-off

By Cath McAloon

MELBOURNE, April 7 AAP - A Victorian government department has apologised to residentsafter a burn off ran out of control and threatened property in the state's north today.

Locals described the burn as "badly-timed" and "foolish".

The fire was started by Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) workerson Friday and planned to burn through 600 hectares of the Cobaw State forest.

Instead, it swept through 1,000 hectares and started spot fires within 200 metres ofhomes and properties this afternoon.

Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesman Ian Major said 56 trucks, seven aircraft andmore than 250 personnel attended the fire and were hoping to have it contained by theend of the day.

DSE spokesman Mike Leonard said the fire was burning according to plan until yesterday evening.

"For the first time we didn't have a heavy dew over the area, we had warmer temperaturesand north-west winds of up to 35 kph," Mr Leonard said.

Chris Litchfield, who manages the Cobaw Country House bed and breakfast, said it wastoo early to be burning off in the area.

"It's foolish to say the least, people are angry about it. The Cobaw forest has neverbeen so dry in white history," Ms Litchfield told AAP.

Alan Cooper, of the Cobaw Ridge Winery, said he understood DSE was in a position ofbeing "damned if they did and damned if they didn't" perform fuel reduction burns.

"My gripe is the lack of communication and consultation, and the timing given thatit is so dry," Mr Cooper said.

"They should have really done it in another month, everything is just so tinder dryat the moment."

DSE chief fire officer Gary Morgan said he regretted the incident and that compensationmay be made available to residents who had lost fences or other infrastructure.

He said it was DSE procedure to consult residents before fuel reduction burns and hebelieved this had been done.

AAP clm/dk/hu/br

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