Community Newsletter Fire Danger: High

Tambo Area Fires Road closure Information: Saturday 30 November 2019 Roads maybe be closed at short notice. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and leave headlights on. Community Meetings: • The is open although speed restrictions maybe in place • Gelantipy Fire Station, Gelantipy Road, • Gelantipy Road between W Tree and Butchers Saturday 30 November 5.30pm Ridge open to local residents and emergency • Buchan Recreation Reserve, 3 pm, Sunday vehicles only. Proof of residency such as a Drivers’ 1 December License or Rates Notice may be required. Information on updated road closures is available via These meetings will be held to provide information in relation 13 11 70 or the VicTraffic website traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au to bushfires in the local area. Local residents will have access to and from the Gelantipy meeting via Gelantipy Emergency Relief Centres: Road. The Buchan Recreation Reserve is now open as a relief centre. Information about the Tambo area fires On Friday afternoon, the Ensay – Ferntree Creek and Livestock and Domestic Animals Buchan South – Mount Elizabeth fires, fanned by north- The East Gippsland Livestock Exchange at Bairnsdale is westerly winds ran towards Buchan and Buchan South. currently open for those wishing to relocate their large There was significant spotting ahead of the main fire front, animals. For any enquiries please contact Mal Leys: 0417 with smoke and burnt embers experienced in Buchan, 707 540. triggering a Watch and Act message. At around 2.45 pm, the wind shifted southwest and dropped in strength. The fire Smoke and your health activity reduced and began moving more slowly in a north- Significant smoke from these fires is continuing to affect local easterly direction and the message was downgraded to communities. If you need medical advice for burns or Advice. exposure to smoke, seek medical advice or call Nurse-on- Call on 1300 60 60 24. Anyone experiencing wheezing, The W-Tree - Snowy Divide Track fire expanded to the south chest tightness and difficulty breathing should call Triple towards The Basin. A recent planned burn to the north east Zero 000. of Murrundil has slowed the fires progress towards Murrundil. A Watch and Act message was issued. The wind change on If you cannot smell smoke, you are not likely to be exposed Friday afternoon further sowed the spread in this direction and it will therefore not affect you. For information on health and the message was downgraded to Advice. in relation to smoke, drinking water and water tanks see: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/emergencies/emergency- Ensay - Ferntree Creek 3,350ha Going type/natural-disasters/bushfire-factsheets Buchan South – Mount Elizabeth 93ha Going W-Tree - Snowy Divide Track 10,579ha Going Park closures Part of Mitchell River National Park is closed, including Bruthen – Six Mile Track 9,450ha Going Angusvale and Billy Goat Bend camping areas. Areas of the Marthavale-Barmouth Spur 3183ha Going are closed in the , Gelantipy - Glenmore Road 69ha Under Control and Mount Selwyn areas, including the Nunnett – Rainbow Track 40ha Contained camping areas and the Alpine Walking Track in these sections. Gelantipy - Eaglehawk Track 31ha Contained Mitchell River National Park 63ha Under Control Stay informed Buchan South small fires 0.5ha Contained • www.emergency.vic.gov.au. • VicEmergency Hotline - freecall 1800 226 226. To 9 am Friday November 30 rainfall totals in the area were: • VicEmergency app (includes fire area maps). Bairnsdale: 14mm; Ensay: 5.8mm and Gelantipy: 3.6mm. • Facebook or Twitter (#vicfire). With only light rainfall today, the significant long-term • Local radio dryness of the landscape and unstable weather conditions, • ABC Gippsland 828am or 100.7fm these large fires will continue to pose a threat to communities If you do not have access to these sources have a chat to over the coming weeks. your neighbours, friends and family.

Weather Information Saturday November 30: To access this information in other languages, call the Cloudy. Very high (95%) chance of showers, becoming less Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) likely this evening. Areas of smoke haze, mainly in the west. and ask them to call VicEmergency Hotline. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming south If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day speech/communication impairment contact National Relay then becoming light in the late evening. Daytime maximum Service on 1800 555 677 and ask them to call the temperatures between 11 and 17. VicEmergency Hotline. Bairnsdale: Showers. Smoke. Max 17 Orbost: Showers easing. Max 14