A TWISTED pyromaniac is suspected of lighting a chain of fires to create
the wall of flames that destroyed homes and threatened lives in Victoria's
northeast.
The Herald Sun has learned the blazes - that still endangered life and
property last night - were ignited in six places over a 30km arc about the
same time late on Tuesday.
Locals believe the inferno was calculated to be fanned by wind towards
Wodonga, Beechworth, Chiltern, Yackandandah and other towns.
Lex McLaughlin, of Beechworth, summed up the thoughts of many: "They should
be shot. They are lower than a snake's belly."
Only the work of hundreds of weary firefighters and some good luck saved
130 homes in the area and spared entire communities.
Arson is also suspected in fires that threatened homes in Lysterfield, in
Melbourne's outer east, yesterday.
As more than 3000 weary firefighters continued to battle more than 100
fires across the state yesterday:
BRIGHT, Porepunkah, Wandiligong and Harrietville last night were at serious
risk from the Mt Buffalo fire as the area burnt by the high country fires
grew to 150,000ha.
FIREFIGHTERS in the northeast struggled to protect Wodonga, Beechworth,
Yackandandah and Stanley.
A COUNTRY Fire Authority captain blamed the Government's inaction for the
scale of the fires that have ravaged the state's alpine region.
A FIRE last night broke out in a pine plantation close to Linton, scene of
the 1998 tragedy in which five firefighters died when their truck was
engulfed in flames.
THE state's top fire officer warned fires would continue to menace Victoria
for another fortnight.
PREMIER Steve Bracks promised up to $20,000 assistance for each fire victim
family.
AUSTRALIA Day celebrations in the northeast were at risk because locals
feared leaving their homes.
IT was revealed there have been 634 fires this season, nearly double the
20-year average of 321. More than 425,000ha across Victoria has been burnt
since the start of summer.
Ash rained on houses and roads were closed before the 20ha fire in the
Lysterfield National Park was contained yesterday afternoon.
The same area was hit by fire 10 days ago. Links between the blazes are
being investigated.
Firebugs are believed to have caused two small blazes at Craigieburn, in
Melbourne's outer north, after youths were seen fleeing the scene.
Indigo Council deputy mayor Jenny Dale was outraged at news of arson
attacks after fire raced to within 100m of her Yackandandah property.
"I don't think these people are sane after having a night like we just
lived through. I just think it's disgusting," Cr Dale said.
Lyn Henry, of Beechworth, said the whole northeast community was disgusted.
"People here could lose everything. I don't think they are insane. That
would be an insult to all the people with problems," she said. "These
people are just twisted. They get senseless thrills out of it."
With firefighting resources already stretched to the limit, 150 officers
rushed to Scarsdale, near Ballarat, to contain a fire raging in a pine
plantation.
CFA chief officer Russell Rees said the outlook for firefighters was grave
with no rain in sight and more scorching weather forecast this weekend.
"We cannot see light at the end of the tunnel for another two weeks," he said.
Mr Rees confirmed the alpine fires that destroyed four houses are believed
to have been deliberately lit.
Mr Rees said three fires began in quick succession, destroying four houses
and a shed at Yackandandah, Stanley and in the Indigo Valley.
"The origin of these fires are suspicious and are being investigated by
police," he said.
More than 20,000ha has been burned at Eldorado, and up to 4000ha in
Stanley, with the flames racing through grassland, scrub, plantation pines
and box ironbark country.
However, Mr Rees said given there were 130 houses directly in the path of
the fires, the efforts of firefighters and the community had worked well.
"It's outstanding that the losses were so small," he said.
Exhausted crews in alpine areas, where lightning strikes started a series
of fires this month, were yesterday relieved by reinforcements from around
the state.
A team of forest fire experts from New Zealand had also been sent to the
Gippsland fires near Omeo, which were burning through dense, rugged country.
Mr Bracks warned arsonists they would face the full force of the law. Under
laws brought in after the deadly Dandenong Ranges fires of 1997, arsonists
face up to 20 years' jail. If a deliberately lit fire causes death, the
maximum penalty is 25 years' jail.
Mr Bracks promised special assistance packages would include funds for
immediate relief, for moving expenses and also to cover some losses
incurred from damage to properties.
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