This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/23/victorian-bushfires-back-burning-not-responsible-for-wye-river-blaze

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Victorian bushfires: back-burning not responsible for Wye river blaze Victorian bushfires: back-burning not responsible for Wye river blaze
(7 months later)
The Wye river fire that is still burning after destroying 116 homes along Victoria’s surf coast on Christmas Day was not caused by back-burning, an investigation has found.The Wye river fire that is still burning after destroying 116 homes along Victoria’s surf coast on Christmas Day was not caused by back-burning, an investigation has found.
The inspector-general for emergency management Tony Pearce has found the devastating Wye river-Separation Creek fire was sparked by a lightning fire along the Jamieson Track that began before Christmas.The inspector-general for emergency management Tony Pearce has found the devastating Wye river-Separation Creek fire was sparked by a lightning fire along the Jamieson Track that began before Christmas.
Had it not been for the back-burning along the Jamieson Track between December 22 and Christmas Eve, the blaze which razed homes in the townships could have been worse, according to the interim report.Had it not been for the back-burning along the Jamieson Track between December 22 and Christmas Eve, the blaze which razed homes in the townships could have been worse, according to the interim report.
Related: Firefighter union calls for coronial inquest into Wye River backburning
“There is no doubt in my mind that the eventual impacts ... would likely have been far worse than was suffered,” Mr Pearce wrote in a letter to Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, released on Saturday.“There is no doubt in my mind that the eventual impacts ... would likely have been far worse than was suffered,” Mr Pearce wrote in a letter to Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, released on Saturday.
Ms Garrett says the interim report confirms authorities made the right decision to back-burn, which was the most appropriate option available for the fuel loads in the Otway Ranges rugged forest.Ms Garrett says the interim report confirms authorities made the right decision to back-burn, which was the most appropriate option available for the fuel loads in the Otway Ranges rugged forest.
“The back-burning decision was a tough decision, we all get that. People are making really difficult calls on our behalf to make our communities safe,” she told reporters.“The back-burning decision was a tough decision, we all get that. People are making really difficult calls on our behalf to make our communities safe,” she told reporters.
“Mr Pearce found that was absolutely the right call.”“Mr Pearce found that was absolutely the right call.”
The inspector-general also found the strategy and resources used for the original fire, which took hold on December 19, were appropriate.The inspector-general also found the strategy and resources used for the original fire, which took hold on December 19, were appropriate.
He does not believe more aerial attacks – as suggested by some critics – would have had an impact on the fire because of its location in a gorge with a dense forest canopy.He does not believe more aerial attacks – as suggested by some critics – would have had an impact on the fire because of its location in a gorge with a dense forest canopy.
Related: Victorian authorities defend Wye River backburn days before 116 houses razed
The emergency services minister is confident they did everything they could to attack the original fire.The emergency services minister is confident they did everything they could to attack the original fire.
“If this fire could have been put out on that day, it would have been put out,” Ms Garrett said.“If this fire could have been put out on that day, it would have been put out,” Ms Garrett said.
“I am satisfied that every resource, and smartly so, was put on this fire.”“I am satisfied that every resource, and smartly so, was put on this fire.”
The Wye river bushfire burned more than 2500 hectares before it was contained on Thursday, with firefighters saying it will take torrential rain to extinguish it completely.The Wye river bushfire burned more than 2500 hectares before it was contained on Thursday, with firefighters saying it will take torrential rain to extinguish it completely.
The inspector-general’s full report is due on February 12.The inspector-general’s full report is due on February 12.