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EX-INDIGO mayor Bernard Gaffney is getting set to hose down the roof of his home as he watches smoke billowing from behind Mount Pilot.
Speaking just before 2pm, Cr Gaffney said he was part of the watch and act advice for the Wooragee area, near Beechworth.
“It says to evacuate. I know a number of my neighbours have.”
Cr Gaffney said he had not long gone into Beechworth and come across quite a few people from the Wooragee area.
Some were planning on driving to Wangaratta.
“But I’m not going to evacuate yet,” he said.
Cr Gaffney said the high winds were making conditions atrocious.
“It’s howling, absolutely howling,” he said.
Cr Gaffney’s home is on a high point in the Wooragee area, giving him a good view of Mount Pilot.
“The fire hasn’t reached the peak of Mount Pilot yet,” he said.
“It’s all on the other side, but there’s thick – very thick – smoke.”
While Cr Gaffney is not yet evacuating, he has made sure he is totally prepared to do so.
“We put our fire plan into action and now it’s just wait and see. We’re ready to evacuate,” he said.
“We’ve packed our bags and the dog is in the laundry, she’s ready to go.”
Cr Gaffney reckoned the fire was “a bit less” than 20 kilometres away from his home.
He could see the flames on the other side of Beechworth during the 2009 fires.
“This one is very similar to the 2003, 2004 fire.”