Vic: Xmas rain brings respite for firefighters

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2006
Vic: Xmas rain brings respite for firefighters

MELBOURNE, Dec 25 AAP - Firefighters battling blazes which have blacked out 870,000
hectares of Victorian bush have enjoyed a quiet day thanks to cool and damp conditions.

Up to 50mm of rain overnight - and snow in alpine regions - have given a Christmas
respite for exhausted firefighters.

Four major fires continue to burn in the state's north-east and Gippsland regions.

Victoria's three-week bushfire crisis has left one person dead and destroyed 32 houses.

Favourable weather is forecast to continue for the next week, giving fire crews a chance
to relax.

Residents of beleaguered Woods Point last night danced in the streets celebrating rain
which has ended the fire threat to north-east Victorian town.

The wet weather extinguished the last of the spot fires around the town and drenched
the weary locals as they let off steam.

"It rained all last night and this morning," said the manager of Woods Point's Commercial
Hotel, Kirrily Pay.

"We had the biggest party, we were absolutely ecstatic, we can't believe we're still here.

"For three weeks now our lives have been on hold. You'd wake up each day and think,
'Is today the day it hits?'

"We can't believe how close the fire came to us.

"We're all still in shock."

Ten days ago the locals ducked for cover as the fire roared towards the town, pulling
back at the last minute with a lucky wind change.

Since then, spot fires have sprung up sporadically, burning within metres of homes.

More than 800 firefighters have been sent home for Christmas with 900 remaining on
duty over the Christmas season.

A Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokeswoman said the fire front was now burning across
bushland and posed no threat to homes.

No towns were currently on alert, she said.

AAP dk/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC NIGHTLEAD

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