WIT.002.002.0108 DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT Fire Information Chronology - 7 February 2009 00:00 to 24:00 DISCLAIMER All efforts have been made to present accurate information within this chronology. However due to the magnitude of the fires, information may be missing, incorrect or outdated. The data contained in this document has been obtained from the most appropriate sources. This document includes: 1. Fire Information Releases 2. Joint/Media Releases 3. External Web Updates 4. Radio broadcasts from ABC 774, FOX FM, MIX FM, Nova 100.3 5. Fire Behaviour Estimates 6. Total Fire Ban Notification 7. Joint State Situation Reports 8. Incident Management Logbook entries from: Ewan Waller, Alen Slijepcevic, DSE State Duty Officers, State Spokerperson and Bureau of Meteorology 9. Initial Fire Reports 10. iECC Briefing 11. State fire and resources snapshots 12. CenITex Notifications 13. Telstra Notifications 14. VBIL Updates 15. Planning and State Duty Officer Handover Notes 16. IRIS resources This document does not include: 1. Logbooks not mentioned above such as: Incident Controller, Fire Behaviour Analyst, State Aircraft Unit, iECC Planning, all regional logs. 2. Television interviews or general fire notifications 3. Regional radio 4. Fire Weather Teleconference minutes 5. Bushfire Information and Significant Incident report (BISI) as it did not occur 6. Fire and Emergency Coordination report as it did not occur 7. Forest Fire Awareness Report as it only occurs once a week This document is a factual representation of records that were generated during the fires and the information has not been altered in any way. Legend: Red text indicates an initial fire report. Blue text indicates the snapshots of the State’s fire and resource status. Green text indicates the first notification of a new fire that DSE gave to the public. Note: All initial fire reports, when entered into Fireweb, are simultaneously uploaded onto DSE’s external website and forms one of the ways DSE first notifies the public of a new fire. There may be a delay between when the iECC receives the initial fire report from the field and when it is uploaded onto Fireweb. WIT.002.002.0109 Preparedness Communications Chronology 7th Feb 2009 Fire Information Chronology 7 February 2009 ANNEXURE 47 to revised statement of Ewan Waller 8 May 2009 Nicole O'Donnell 5-May-09 7th February 2009 documents One version of each document Main Doc ID Date Time Description DSE.HDD.0006.1996 07-Feb-09 0000 Statewide Resource Availability and Map. Shows where preformed IMTs were in place across the state. Also where pre-positioned taskforces were located. DSE.CD01.0023.0021 DSE.HDD.0006.1997 DSE.HDD.0012.0795 DSE.HDD.0008.0125 07-Feb-09 0000 ABC Broadcasts. ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC Reporter: Dash Lawrence. Today, Total Fire Ban across the state of Victoria. CFA reminds public - now is the time to implement their bushfire plan. BoM issued a severe weather warning for tomorrow. ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence Approximate size of fire 152ha. Large crews in attendance, expected to be contained tonight, may still post a threat to nearby communities on Saturday. Labertouche and Tonimbuk should prepare themselves. Jindivick, Bunyip, Drouin West and Longwarry should also prepare for falling embers and fire. People in smoke affected areas should slow down. Visitors are advised to avoid Bunyip State Park and Kurth Kiln Regional Park. This fire is expected to disrupt train and coach services tomorrow. Monitor DSE and CFA websites for fire information. Total Fire Ban for NSW tomorrow. ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence Fire is going, 30km NNW Dargo in State Forest. High risk of spreading. Fire area approximately 30ha. ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence Grass fire has been contained, will continue to be monitored throughout the night. No communities are threatened at present. DSE.0018.0121.0125 07-Feb-09 0138 State Duty Officer, Dennis Ward, Incident Management Logbook Entry. CFA have not planned for the SW change. Looking to plan for this early. CFA will assume control of fire when fires hits interface. 2 Chiefs will need to agree on this process as swapping control at critical time is dangerous. Community messaging continuing with ICC and iECC working together. DSE.HDD.0008.0125 07-Feb-09 0255 ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC reporter: Phillipa Marr. Unprecedented bushfire conditions expected this weekend in southern states. Containment lines of Bunyip fire are being strengthened. Size of this fire is approximately 150ha. Blaze could threaten nearby townships. DSE.HDD.0008.0125 07-Feb-09 0300 ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC Reporter: Dash Lawrence. Work continuing on fire in Bunyip State Park. Fire is 152ha and is 5km N of Tonimbuk. DSE and CFA are warning residents in Labertouche that they are likely to be impacted by fire later today. Jindivick, Drouin, Drouin West, Longwarry, Longwarry North, Neerim, Neerim South, Neerim East, Noojee, Bunyip, Tonimbuk, Shady Creek and Rosworth are likely to be impacted by smoke, embers and possibly fire. Tourists advised to avoid Bunyip State Park and Kurth Kiln Regional Park. Those driving in smoke affected areas should drive cautiously. ABC Reporter: Dash Lawrence Dargo fire has a high risk of spreading. Approximately 30ha. Licola fire has been contained, will continue to be monitored. Nariel fire has been contained. Access to State Forest and National parks will be restricted. Due to strong winds and high possibility of fire emergency services are advising Victorians to avoid all unnecessary travel today, particularly to bushlands, parks and coastal strips and other fire prone areas. Also a fire risk in outer metropolitan parks and reserves. DSE.0018.0121.0125 07-Feb-09 0327 State Duty Officer Dennis Ward, logbook. Fire escaped on Eastern Flank. Fire behaviour extreme with flame heights 5 - 10 metres. DSE.0018.0121.0126 07-Feb-09 0359 State Duty Officer Dennis Ward, logbook. Communities of Tonimbuk, Labertouche and Jindivick West have been issued with a threat alert. Significant spotting potential. DSE.HDD.0008.0125 07-Feb-09 0400 ABC 774 Broadcasts. ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence Bunyip State Park fire continues to rage. Residents of Labertouche are likely to be impacted by fire later today. Jindivick, Drouin, Drouin West, Longwarry, Longwarry North, Neerim, Neerim South, Neerim East, Noojee, Bunyip, Tonimbuk, Shady Creek and Rosworth are likely to experience smoke, embers and possibly fire. Tourists advised not to visit Bunyip State Park or Kurth Kiln Regional park today. ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence This fire is 35km NNW of Dargo State Forest. High risk of this fire spreading. Burned 30ha so far. Licola Target Creek fire has been contained. Will continue to be monitored though. Nariel fire has been contained and will also be monitored. Access to state forests and national park will be restricted today. ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence BoM issued severe weather warning for a number of areas in Victoria. Details are given. Real possibility of fire today. Emergency services warn Victorians to avoid all unnecessary travel tomorrow particularly to bushlands, parks, costal strips and other fire prone areas. DSE.0017.0115.0163 07-Feb-09 0430 Alert Message (#4) - Bunyip Ridge fire, 5 km north of Tonimbuk, near Pakenham. Burning in a SE direction and is estimated to be greater than 152 ha. Fire is not currently posing a threat but Labertouche, Jindivick West and Tonimbuk communities need to be aware DSE.0047.0378.0037 that fire activity in the area has increased and has the potential to impact directly. The fire has broken containment lines and is spotting in multiple areas. Labertouche, Jindivick West and Tonimbuk communities will notice increased smoke and could start to see DSE.HDD.0002.0556 embers within 2 hours. DSE.0013.0070.0131 07-Feb-09 0500 External Website Update. Total Fire Ban for entire state today. Extreme fire conditions today. Travel Warnings issued. Detailed list of threat/alert/advice messages. DSE.0017.0113.0131 DSE.HDD.0002.2362 DSE.HDD.0002.2365 DSE.0017.0115.0161 or 07-Feb-09 0500 Joint Media Release - Fire fighters and communities near Bunyip State Park should prepare for fire. The fire has broken containment lines, earlier than expected. Warnings for Labertouche, Tonimbuk and Jindivick West residents. Jindivick, Drouin, Drouin West, DSE.HDD.0002.1352 Longwarry, Longwarry North, Neerim, Neerim South, Noojee, Bunyip, Shady Creek and Rosworth are likely to be impacted by smoke, embers and possible fire. The 152 hectare fire is 5km north of Tonimbuk, burning in difficult terrain. 'By now local residents should have made the decision to stay with their properties or leave early." DSE.HDD.0008.0125 07-Feb-09 0505 ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC reporter: John Hall. Searing temperatures means extreme bushfire conditions for three states. ABC reporter: Alma Mistry Temperatures forecasted to reach 46 degrees in southern states. In Victoria conditions are expected to be similar to that of the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. DSE.HDD.0008.0125 07-Feb-09 0511 ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC reporter: Dash Lawrence. Bunyip Ridge Fire - 5km N of Tonimbuk, burnt 152ha as at 4am. Not currently posing a threat. Labertouche, Jindivick West and Tonimbuk communities be aware that fire activity has increased and may impact them directly. May notice increased smoke, and see embers within two hours. Fire has broken containment lines and is spotting in multiple areas. Dargo - White Timber Spur - 35km NNW of Dargo, high risk of spreading, approximately 30ha. Licola - Target Creek fire - contained. Will continue to be monitored, no communities at risk at this stage. Nariel fire - contained. Will continue to be monitored. This fire has restricted access to the State Forest and National Park. BoM issued severe weather warning for today. Details givens. Chance of bushfire activitity. Emergency services warn Victorians to avoid all unnecessary travel today, particularly to high fire risk areas.