General News
2 February, 2025
'Fire boundary of 200km'
One of Wimmera Mallee News' own is on the frontline battling the fires that began threatening Dimboola on Monday night.
David Ward, also a CFA member, was part of a strike team that on Monday and Tuesday put out flare-ups on the outskirts of Dimboola.
He described the seriousness of the situation and gave details of the sheer size of the ruins after his strike team was called out to the fires at about 7pm on Monday.
"At that stage, Dimboola was seriously under threat," Mr Ward said.
"Apparently about 64,000ha have been burnt so far, and the fire has a boundary currently of about 200km around it.
"It was fierce, the wind was extraordinarily strong, it was hot and it just roared through, all the way to Dimboola from near Nhill.
"They evacuated Dimboola with half an hour's notice last (Monday) night."
Mr Ward described the fire as coming in "two fingers" – one to the north of Dimboola and one to the south – which merged at Horseshoe Bend, a place he described as a popular holiday spot on the river.
"That's absolutely devastating," Mr Ward said.
"It's destroyed all the native trees.
"Some of those redgums are 400 to 500 years old, and there are a lot of Indigenous canoe trees that have probably been lost."
Mr Ward said as of mid-morning Tuesday, many areas were burning still.
"All the strike teams are out here attempting to control the spot fires and there are bulldozers and graders putting fire breaks around the town," Mr Ward said.
"They did have aerial bombers here until it got dark last night but I haven't seen any activity again with them today.
"All the brigades from around the region, including South Australia, are here trying to get out the spot fires before it gets hotter and windier."
Mr Ward said of concern were the dangerous trees that remained after the fire had passed through.
"They are certainly keen to ensure the public don't come into the area because the risk of candling, where the fire burns up the inside of the tree and you can't see it but it's dangerous given it can just fall," Mr Ward said.
"We witnessed that near Dimboola Golf Club last night with a falling tree in front of us."
Mr Ward said there was a feeling of confidence that Dimboola, the town, would be protected from the fires.
"The bulldozers are preparing breaks to the west," he said.
"A lot of the fire has burnt through quickly, the flammable stuff, so that's why the strike teams are going in controlling those areas that have flared up.
"There are lots of areas still burning but it's amazing the number of properties that could have, and potentially should have, burnt but haven't.
"Fires have burnt right up to houses and holiday shacks but they are still standing – it's remarkable."