At around 3:36 pm the Mt Wombat fire spotter called in a bushfire at Strathbogie and requested Vic Fire respond at least five vehicles and air attack “as a matter of urgency.”
9:00pm: As the fire is now under control, we’ll leave our live coverage. Coverage will resume should the situation change;
8:59pm: Police to-open Maroondah Highway/Strathbogie Rd intersection as fire downgraded to advice. Bonnie Doon Tanker 9 is returning to station;
8:51pm: Mt Wombat tower has closed;
8:34pm: Merton Tankers One and Two back in station;
8:30pm: The cool change yet to arrive at Strathbogie.
8:11pm: Strike Team 2200 is also now forming with CFA appliances travelling to Euroa Fire Station which has become the staging area for the Strathbogie fire;
6: 54pm: It’s still 37.5c, Humidity 18%, Wind NNW 11.1km/h, Gusting to 23.4km/h in Strathbogie. Yarrawonga Tanker – that was overheating earlier – has arrived at Euroa Fire Station;
6:36 pm: Eildon Forward Command Vehicle (FCV) just departed Eildon for the Strathbogie fire via Euroa to join Strike Team 2241;
6:18 pm: The fire is predicted to spread north east when the cool change arrives. Another Watch and Act has been issued for this;
5:55 pm: The fire has jumped ahead of the eastern flank, creating a new grass fire. A new, seperate, Watch and Act has been issued for this fire;
5:44 pm: Yarrawonga Tanker reports engine overheating on way to Euroa Fire Station. The crew have pulled over hoping to fix the problem;
5:33 pm: FFMV and aircraft continue working on the 3 hectare fire near Kippings Road, west of Merton-Euroa Rd, Strathbogie;
5:35 pm: Yarrawonga Tanker is dispatched to join strike team 2241;
5: 28 pm: Not yet under control. Firefighters are putting preparations in place before the wind change arrives, working on the eastern flank. The Watch and Act message has just been updated ahead of the predicted wind change;
5: 25 pm: Cool change arrives in Melbourne (22c now) but it’s still 38.9c in Strathbogie;
5:15 pm: Shepparton East Tanker, Mooroopna Tanker and others are meeting at Euroa Fire Station to form Strike Team 2241;
5:10 pm: Mooroopna Tanker is turning out to Strathbogie fire as more strike teams are formed;
5: 11pm: Bonnie Doon Tanker 9 on scene at Strathbogie fire;
5: 05 pm: People in the Merton, Ancona and Woodfield areas should monitor emergency messages and people in the area should be advised of reduced air quality and low visibility;
4:45 pm: Fire upgraded to a Watch & Act;
4:41 pm: Strathbogie capatin reports the fire is not yet under control and “beginning to run into heavily timbered country.”
4:36 pm: Ambulance requested as firefighter suffers heat stroke;
4:35 pm: The Kanumbra fire is reported as a false alarm;
4:32 pm: It’s currently 38.2c, 18% RH, WIND 19.5 km/h from the north north west, gusting to 21.3 km/h;
4:29 pm: Alexandra tanker is responding to the Kanumbra fire;
4:26 pm: Tanker requested urgently as a house is under threat in Strathbogie;
4:23 pm: The fire is located south of Mt Wombat and north of Merton (see above);
4:22 pm: Another fire – believed small – is reported at Kanumbra, north east of Yarck.
4:19 pm: Avenel CFA is going to cover Euroa’s fire district;
4:08 pm: Strathbogie CFA Captain has confirmed a grass and scrub fire that is “not yet under control.” Euroa pumper has been responded to protect a house;
4:06 pm: Longwood SPV responding;
4:01 pm: Strathbogie [Fire] Control has requested 20 additional fire trucks. “Make tankers twenty.”
3:57 pm: Vic Fire broadcast a message that the cool change isn’t expected in the outer suburbs until around 7pm;
3:56 pm: Air attack has departed Mansfield Airport.
