A BUSHFIRE burned out of control just across the Victorian border yesterday after a blaze that began in a shed at a timber mill on Palpara Settlement Road spread to scrub.
The fire started at around 1pm, 17km west of Dartmoor, however hot and windy conditions saw the blaze quickly spread in a south-easterly direction.
A warning was issued on the VIC Emergency website at 3.13pm informing residents in the area that firefighters were unable to stop the blaze crossing the Princes Highway and it was moving towards Mumbannar and Wanwin.
“Mumbannar and Wanwin could be impacted anytime within the next six hours,” the warning read.
“Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous – emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”
Around 29 Victoria Country Fire Authority crews attended the scene as well as four Country Fire Service crews from Compton, Donovans, Pleasant Park and Mil Lel.
Mount Gambier CFS operations captain Bob Davis spoke to The Border Watch yesterday as he was preparing a strike team to head over the border.
“As far as I know the fire is still out of control and they have two water bombers and Victoria’s big 747-type plane helping to fight the blaze with crews on the ground,” Mr Davis said at 3pm yesterday.
“We are sending a strike team of four crews over and a command vehicle for communications.”
Road closures were in place on Gambles Road, Settlement Road, the intersection of Princes Highway and Casterton Road and the intersection of Princes Highway and the Dartmoor-Hamilton Road.
The bushfire comes less than two weeks after a blaze tore through 20,000ha near Sherwood destroying six homes and thousands of stock.
At press time yesterday firefighters were battling the flames in an attempt to get the fire under control.
It was still unclear whether the fire had done any damage to property or stock.
