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FIREFIGHTERS were expected to work through the night in a bid to contain an out-of-control bushfire near Wangaratta’s state forests ahead of worsening weather conditions today.
About 2000 head of sheep have been killed and farming fences and sheds damaged in the 6800 hectare blaze, which sparked late Tuesday afternoon at Lake Rowan and spread rapidly through Boweya and Boweya North to the foot of the Warby Range National Park and Killawarra Forest.
A CFA State Control Centre spokesman said a home had been destroyed by fire at Lake Rowan yesterday but further details were not available.
About 80 residents from the region evacuated after an emergency alert for what is the first major fire in the area since 1939.
Among them were Steve and Fiona Garratt, who left their Boweya North property with their three children after it first came under ember attack about 5pm on Tuesday, and late yesterday they were still unsure of the extent of the damage to their home.
“It was very very windy, you could see the smoke coming in and as we left you could see the flames on the other side of the road, about 200 metres from the paddock,” Mr Garratt said.
Brock, 2, Steve, Fiona and Brodie Garratt, 9, pictured at the emergency relief centre at the HP Barr Reserve Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICK
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The family moved to Boweya two years ago from Clonbinane, where they faced the Black Saturday fires and now “we’re fighting another fire”.
The family attended the relief centre at Wangaratta’s HP Barr Reserve; another centre was also set up in Benalla.
Others, like Bob and Jane Derrick chose to stay and fight, soaking the house thoroughly and watching as the flames passed them by.
“Looking out now it’s all black with just smouldering trees,” Mr Derrick said from his patio last night.
The Derricks were lucky not to lose any of their 500 sheep — their neighbour, less than a kilometre away forced to put down about 1000.
District 23 deputy district controller Lachlan Gales said the fire had spread very little yesterday despite moving quickly the night before, having been fanned by winds of up to 95km/h.
“It’s still an active fire but we’re feeling confident of the situation,” he said.
“We’ll continue to burn off along the eastern and northern flanks where there’s active fires, and we’re continuing to consolidate the containment lines... but overnight we’re not expecting a lot of fire activity.”
The emergency warning was downgraded yesterday afternoon, and Mr Gales said crews were assisting people back to their properties on an individual basis, but that people needed to remain vigilant.