Fire closes Mt Bogong walking tracks
HIKERS in Victoria’s Mount Bogong High Plains were last night advised to leave immediately, following the closure of a number of walking tracks in the area.
An uncontrolled bushfire in the state’s alpine region was last night travelling uphill towards the peak of Mt Bogong.
The mountain walking tracks have been closed to ensure the safety of people in the area.
The fires continue to burn after being ignited by lightning on Thursday, Forest Fire Management Victoria reported yesterday.
The fires have grown in size since then, the largest being an estimated 300 hectares.
“The remote locations of these fires are proving to be challenging for our crews and we fully expect them to burn for a number of weeks as firefighters work hard to contain them,” Forest Fire Management Victoria Hume Deputy Chief Fire Officer Aaron Kennedy said.
A Total Fire Ban has been announced for today for the Northern Country and Mallee.
Meanwhile, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says $48 million has been set aside for bushfire recovery.
The community recovery package — a joint federal and state government initiative — was announced yesterday morning and includes grants of up to $15,000 to help small businesses and farmers.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said yesterday the Council of Australian Governments should ensure the best co-ordination was in place, that there was support for rural fire services and volunteers, and that appropriate firefighting equipment, including aerial services, were available at all times.