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Yes it was dreadful on Friday. Bushfires broke out all across Victoria, a number of them out of control and threatening farms, towns and homes.
Hot, dangerous weather with temperatures in the mid 40C and blustery northerlies driving the fires.
Changing and unpredictable conditions through the day. Many emergency warnings all over the state that were increasingly dire as well as numerous.
The weather was different on Saturday with a change of wind direction coming from a s/w cooler change. A number of fires still out of control and other areas now being threatened by the larger fires.
Much cooler, mild conditions on Sunday, which should help CFA deal with the fires incl work on containment lines.
But some of these fires could burn for weeks, especially where the areas are inaccessible in the national parks or not high priority at this stage.
Thankfully it looks like cooler temperatures (in southern Victoria anyway) this week.
So far 130 homes or buildings have burned down and total land burned over 300,000 hectares. Also a large number of livestock killed, and being able to check on livestock or getting feed to animals is an issue for farmers.
Currently there are still 32 fires active in Victoria and multiple emergency warnings still in force.
A major bushfire at Mount Alexander. This will be affecting the wineries to the south of Bendigo and around Harcourt especially. Either directly or smoke taint to this year’s crop.
Another major bushfire is in the Longwood area, which has burned 144,000 hectares. There are a number of fires from Avenel in the north down through Alexandra and Yea in the south. Many homes in the town of Ruffy have burned down.
The Longwood fire is out of control. Looks like it is still east of the Goulburn Valley Hwy, but wineries like Tahbilk and Mitchelton will be watching that.
Many wineries like Tahbilk have closed their cellar doors this weekend.
Sadly the Fowles winery outside Avenel has been devastated by this bushfire. The Age has a story on it describing the loss of homes, livestock and this year’s crop. Damage to the vineyards incl timber posts and water feeders. The winery itself might be OK, it is located further away at Upton Hill not Avenel.
Also bushfires around the state in the Alpine east of Mansfield, the Wimmera at Natimuk and Horsham, the Otways in the s/w, up in the Walwa area in the n/e and a number of them in the Gippsland area around Cann River and Mallacoota.
A couple of points.
First, these bushfires will be an ongoing danger for some time depending on the weather conditions. Smoke taint will be an issue this year for many wineries throughout central Victoria especially.
Second, this state is typically made up of many small, family-owned wineries or vineyards. They will be very busy over coming weeks protecting homes, livestock and assets. Thinking of them of course.
I expect when vintage comes round and winery newsletters are coming out, we will get a more accurate idea of who/how have been affected by these bushfires.