3 blazes merge into mega-fire

Rain brings some relief but new risk of flash floods and health warnings

Three bush fires have merged to create a massive blaze in the Snowy Mountains on Australia’s New South Wales/Victoria border.

The 233,000ha Green Valley fire merged with the nearby East Ournie Creek blaze and the 312,000ha Dunns Rd fire on Friday evening.

And while residents in most of Victoria’s bush fire-stricken areas were yesterday welcoming a reprieve, as rain fell in some areas, authorities were warning of the risk of flash flooding — a new deadly risk for firefighters.

Milder conditions are forecast for the next week to 10 days, meaning attention can turn increasingly to recovery and relieving exhausted emergency services workers.

The improved conditions brought relief in towns along the Great Alpine Road.

In Victoria, 20 fires were burning and in New South Wales, 136 fires were still burning, despite the cooler weather.

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposing a day of mourning when Parliament resumes. Albanese said the first day back in Parliament would have a “sombre note” after the fires.

“This season will have a long-term economic, social and human impact on this country.”

Doctors were yesterday predicting a public health crisis from the bush fire season of increased mental health problems and injury along with issues related to prolonged smoke exposure.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians said Australia was in uncharted territory when it came to assessing the long-term health effects of the current bush fire season.

Respiratory expert and RACP president-elect Professor John Wilson said a comprehensive and coordinated public health response was needed.

“This is an unprecedented public health crisis and we don’t yet know the impact this prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke is going to have,” he said.

Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine president Linda Selvey said the spread of contagious diseases was a risk as recovery efforts began in fireravaged disaster zones.

“There are also potential health risks relating to evacuation such as food and water supply and quality, and communicable diseases from many people collected together in small places for prolonged periods,” she said.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville has warned that people caught up in or fleeing bush fires will have “significant trauma”.

This season will have a long-term economic, social and human impact on this country. Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese