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WODONGA had dodged a “massive bullet”, with firefighters yesterday defeating a blaze that had been burning out of control west of the city since Monday.
As the battle continued on a fire still out of control near Wangaratta last night, Wodonga West CFA captain Ross Coyle revealed luck had nothing to do with the successful effort against the fire on Wodonga’s fringe — the organisation had been prepared for such a scenario for years, and was ready to put its plan of attack into effect.
The 187-hectare fire was tucked away in the hills off Plunketts Road, three kilometres from the nearest farming property; but, from the now-blackened landscape, the urban fringe of Wodonga looms large.
It’s the closest a fire has come to the city’s edge since 1952; modelling from that fire, at Cornishtown, was used to help the CFA plan for scenarios.
“We’ve known for a long time that any fire that approached Wodonga from the western side would be bad,” Mr Coyle said.
“That’s why the CFA took it so seriously.
“They just knew it was a must ... while we didn’t want to see the plan come into effect, we’re delighted it’s worked.”
The blaze was sparked by lightning strikes on Monday afternoon and crews fought all day Tuesday to get it under control.
Tuesday’s efforts were crucial as firefighers battled hot weather and wind gusts of up to 95km/h.
The CFA’s modelling showed the worst-case scenario would see the fire take hold and spread through Coyles Road and all the way to Parkers and Felltimber Creek roads.
But the efforts of 150 firefighters, 25 trucks and several water-bombers meant the fire, although out-of-control, had barely spread beyond its seven kilometre perimeter by lunch time on Tuesday.
Residents yesterday awoke to good news; the watch and act warning that had been in place for 24 hours was downgraded.
But, as Mr Coyle stressed, it wasn’t easy for crews who had worked overnight in steep, dark terrain, with breakaway fires sparking on Tuesday night.
“There was a period we were sure it was going to make a march on Wodonga,” he said.
“That first night, it was burning down all the hills and we just knew if it reached the bottom and makes a run at the next one, we’re gone.”
Yesterday’s milder weather, with little wind, made life easier for the 62 firefighters still on the scene mopping up; the clean up is likely to continue today.
“We dodged a massive bullet ... I’ve got to say, if we didn’t hold this back, Wodonga’s residential area would have been hit,” Mr Coyle said.
“It’s not good luck, it’s good work; luck often has a bit to do with it, but this time luck was definitely against us.”
Though much of the threat had passed yesterday, residents have still been advised to have a ready fire plan and to remain abreast of any changes, particularly with worsening conditions forecast today.