synrgy
17-01-2007, 01:26 PM
Thredbo is about to be evacuated, fire must be getting pretty close.
Anyone know anybody up there ? Hopefully our lodge we stay in wont burn down.
News report below -
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21073955-2,00.html
By staff writers
January 17, 2007 01:44pm
Article from: NEWS.com.au
ONE of the nation's top ski resorts is being evacuated because it is under threat from an approaching bushfire.
The fire has more than doubled its size in less than 24 hours and Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks and Wildlife crews are preparing for the blaze to burn very close to the centre of Thredbo by nightfall.
“The fire is approximately 12km from Thredbo now, but if weather continued as expected it will be 6km from Thredbo by nightfall,” Ailish Pope, an RFF and Incident Management Team spokeswoman, said.
“We have trigger points in place to relocate staff if need be.”
All visitors have been told to leave Thredbo, on the NSW-Victoria border.
The fire was sparked by lightning on Friday and was burning in inaccessible terrain but is not a threat to the ski resort town.
“The fire has burnt about 1400ha on the Vicotrian side of the border and about 3200ha on the New South Wales side,” Ms Pope said.
“Fire crews are being supported by 6 aircrafts including an air crane.
“The NSW Fire Brigade is also on standby to provide assistance if we need it.”
Susie Diver, Thredbo resort spokesperson, said 700 to 1000 visitors had been evacuated as a precaution and staff had been told to wet down all surfaces.
"The next two days will be telling," Ms Diver said.
The Alpine Way is now closed to all traffic aside from residents and emergency personnel.
The Kosciusko National Park and the Geehi and Swampy Creek Campsites have also been closed for public safety.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has advised residents in the Snowy Mountains region that the Hermit Mountain Fire in Victoria on the Upper Murray River near Tom Groggin Station has crossed the border into NSW. The fire is now east and south of the Alpine Way west of Thredbo.
Kosciusko National Park is closed south of the Snowy Mountains Highway and east of Cabramurra/Khancoban Road to all visitors. The Alpine Way is closed from Dead Horse Gap to Khancoban.
The Geehi and Swampy creek campsites have also been evacuated and closed.
At this stage there is no threat to any other communities in the Snowy Mountains area.
Anyone know anybody up there ? Hopefully our lodge we stay in wont burn down.
News report below -
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21073955-2,00.html
By staff writers
January 17, 2007 01:44pm
Article from: NEWS.com.au
ONE of the nation's top ski resorts is being evacuated because it is under threat from an approaching bushfire.
The fire has more than doubled its size in less than 24 hours and Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks and Wildlife crews are preparing for the blaze to burn very close to the centre of Thredbo by nightfall.
“The fire is approximately 12km from Thredbo now, but if weather continued as expected it will be 6km from Thredbo by nightfall,” Ailish Pope, an RFF and Incident Management Team spokeswoman, said.
“We have trigger points in place to relocate staff if need be.”
All visitors have been told to leave Thredbo, on the NSW-Victoria border.
The fire was sparked by lightning on Friday and was burning in inaccessible terrain but is not a threat to the ski resort town.
“The fire has burnt about 1400ha on the Vicotrian side of the border and about 3200ha on the New South Wales side,” Ms Pope said.
“Fire crews are being supported by 6 aircrafts including an air crane.
“The NSW Fire Brigade is also on standby to provide assistance if we need it.”
Susie Diver, Thredbo resort spokesperson, said 700 to 1000 visitors had been evacuated as a precaution and staff had been told to wet down all surfaces.
"The next two days will be telling," Ms Diver said.
The Alpine Way is now closed to all traffic aside from residents and emergency personnel.
The Kosciusko National Park and the Geehi and Swampy Creek Campsites have also been closed for public safety.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has advised residents in the Snowy Mountains region that the Hermit Mountain Fire in Victoria on the Upper Murray River near Tom Groggin Station has crossed the border into NSW. The fire is now east and south of the Alpine Way west of Thredbo.
Kosciusko National Park is closed south of the Snowy Mountains Highway and east of Cabramurra/Khancoban Road to all visitors. The Alpine Way is closed from Dead Horse Gap to Khancoban.
The Geehi and Swampy creek campsites have also been evacuated and closed.
At this stage there is no threat to any other communities in the Snowy Mountains area.