By Emile Pavlich, ABC
Country Fire Authority crews are hopeful cooler conditions will help contain the fire. Photo: Supplied / ABC News / Julia Bergin
Fire authorities in the Australian state of Victoria say favourable cooler weather will help them contain a large fire in the Grampians National Park in coming days.
Three homes and multiple sheds have been lost in the 74,000-hectare blaze on the eastern section of the national park, according to authorities.
The homes are located in the Moyston area, near Ararat in western Victoria, and the 11 sheds are located near Moyston and Pomonal.
State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Heagerty said work to contain the fire could take a couple of weeks.
"That work will mean that we will reduce the likelihood of the fire spreading towards communities," he said.
"At the moment, it's looking like the next seven days are going to be pretty favourable for our work.
"We're not seeing, at this stage, a day where there's any significant increase in fire danger."
A Watch and Act message remains active for many towns near the Grampians region, including the towns of Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Willaura, Moyston and Pomonal.
Damage at a property near Moyston on the eastern side of the Grampians. Photo: Supplied / ABC News / Sacha Payne
The town of Pomonal has been hit by two major fires in less than a year.
A fire in February destroyed 45 homes, but no lives were lost.
Many farms damaged
Authorities say impact assessments are still being completed, but it is clear there is significant damage to nearby farms.
About 30 hectares of land burnt at Andy Nagorcka's property south of the larger Grampians fire in Gazette.
He said a lot of his fences had been destroyed.
"Three kilometres, I'm not sure. I will wait for the [insurance] assessor," he said.
"Maybe $20,000 or $30,000 [worth of damage]."
The fire at Andy Nagorcka's property burnt about 30 hectares and damaged fences and eucalypt plantations. Photo: Supplied / ABC News / Julia Bergin
Agriculture Victoria is working with fire authorities and has set up a hotline number, +61 1800 226 226, to support impacted farmers who need support.
Nagorcka said given it was only December, he had concerns heading into the warmer months.
"We're going to have, certainly, two or three months of a bit of an anxious wait to see what else develops," he said.
Other farmers were forced to euthanise livestock burnt by the fires.
Halls Gap residents back home
On Friday evening, Halls Gap residents were told they could safely return to the town, but tourists were told not to go.
Halls Gap Zoo owner Mark Treweek initially took many of his animals out of the zoo and kept them at his home.
He said the zoo had not been destroyed by the fire, but he had been busy in recent days cleaning up the mess and making sure animals were fed.
"There's ash everywhere and branches down from the wind storms," he said.
"Sleep was optional."
A fundraiser has been set up for the zoo to help cover operating costs.
Treweek said the support from the community and the CFA had been enormous.
"Once we're back up and running, we'll be looking to raise funds for the CFA," he said.
"Everyone else has given so much to us, we want to give back to them."
Community rallying around
Northern Grampians Shire Mayor Karen Hyslop said she believed residents would look to rebuild.
"They are really optimistic and determined to stay where they live," she said.
"They are a strong community, they will rebuild and they will get together and support each other."
Meanwhile, Moyston Willaura Football Netball Club president Terry Keilar said he would reach out to the impacted families.
"A lot of those will be involved with the football netball club," he said.
"We will always rally around each other."
Individual one-off payments will be available for people impacted by the fires.
They include a payment of $680 per adult and half that amount for children, up to a maximum of $2380 per eligible family, to help cover the cost of essentials.
- This article was first published by the ABC
