[AS380 Mark Richards]

AirSource assists Christmas Bush Fire Fire Emergency in Tranquil Holiday Towns


Scores of houses and buildings are feared lost in Victoria's Great Ocean Rd fire as emergency crews focus on saving lives.

The Country Fire Authority says 53 houses have been lost by the fire threatening to smother much of the Otway Ranges about 200km south west of Melbourne.

The full impact of the fires will not be known until tomorrow with the blaze to burn for days.

The worst affected towns are Separation Creek, where 18 houses have been destroyed, and Wye River, which has lost 35.

The fate of Kennett River was unclear tonight.

The tourist town of Lorne was under real threat of being heavily affected, depending on the mid-evening wind change.

The Great Ocean Rd is part of the Otway Ranges which regularly burn; most houses are built into hillside bush.

People in the holiday towns of Kennett River and Grey River were told it was too late to leave just after 6.30pm on Friday as spot fires continued to land up to 2km out from the fire front.



Two nearby towns, Wye River and Separation Creek, were evacuated earlier on Friday.

Hundreds of homes are under threat and four have already been lost as the 1500-hectare, out-of-control Jamieson Track blaze continues to ravage the Lorne area.

Incident Commander Mr Drayton said more than 150 firefighters, 60 fire trucks and eight water-bombing aircraft were at the scene.

Aircraft for this mission are Bell 212 helicopters and the RJ-85 Water-bomber that has flown into Australia for the fire season and already been put to good use.



FLIGHTS FOUND IN THE BID DIVISION.

[AS380 Mark Richards]

This fire is a couple of hours from my home.

Here's some more images:

[AS380 Mark Richards]

This from Facebook tonight, Boxing Day, 26DEC15:



More than twice the number of homes lost than first reported. That's 116 families who lost their home on Christmas Day.