~ BUSHFIRE DID REACH HOTHAM ~
Well thats annoying!
that’s shocking. It’s raining here in Melbs at present.
Still warm at Chill Hill 
and dead still
Still warm at Chill Hill
and dead still
doubt we’ll get rain.
Azz’s Fire Safety Plan?????
this made me chuckle!
Stay safe Hotham friends, and Chill Hill crew of course! Especially for all that hard work at SCEG 
Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board – Fires 2013 Update
Monday, 4th February 2013 – 2.30pm
Resort Threat: Low – currently NO active fires within Resort.
Conditions: Quiet, smoke haze, 18’c, Humidity 60%, Wind 7km/h from east south-east.
Road Status: Both Approaches Closed – Emergency Vehicle Access Only.
Note: These updates are NOT designed to replace those provided by the CFA and DSE or provide an emergency threat notification to persons currently in the resort environs – rather, the updates will filter status information quickly and report possible impacts on Resort assets and infrastructure from a stakeholder perspective
This service will be maintained until the Resort is no longer under direct threat.
Past Fire Activity Update - Thursday 31st January – Saturday 2nd February
Last Thursday the Resort came unexpectedly under direct threat. Neither the CFA, DSE or MHARMB predicted the extreme events that were to transpire.
The Harrietville - Feathertop Fire became active, essentially driven by the warming conditions and strengthening winds on Thursday.
Around 3pm, the wind changed to a north-westerly and Mt Hotham Resort became the victim of an ember attack. The Harrietville/Feathertop fire ran up and over Bon Accord Spur and spotted onto Eagle Ridge (some 4kms from the resort centre) at very short notice. Mt Hotham experienced spot fires throughout the village in the Heavenly Valley and Blue Ribbon/Davenport Access areas, which then jumped the Great Alpine Road (GAR) opposite Moritz, threatening lodges within the Davenport Area and a possible run up Mount Little Higginbotham.
Initially Mount Hotham Resort Management Staff and Mt Hotham/ Dinner Plain CFA were on the scene to defend the resort. Three CFA Strike Teams and the Omeo Brigade were deployed from East Gippsland in the early evening and the ICC (Incident Control Centre) allocated air assistance from four aircraft to water bomb various areas for asset protection throughout the village and the ski field.
Helicopters worked with the CFA and Mount Hotham Resort Management staff ground crew until dark – when the onslaught was contained.
Direct Asset Threats on 31st January;
The fire approached within 50 metres of Australian Alpine Club – which was successfully defended by CFA members, MHARMB staff and water bombing;
Spotfires in front Tanderra, Rodondo and Ettamogah lodges was successfully extinguished by Mt Hotham Board staff, resulting in only minor charring of the Ettamogah Lodge balcony.
Fire ran up alongside Langitaan and continued to the top of Mt. Little Higginbotham (at the rear of the Davenport Subdivision) – the CFA was able to control and extinguish this area.
Edelweiss Lodge was threatened; water bombing successfully prevented the destruction of the building.
Over the following Friday and Saturday, the CFA and DSE crews maintained an on mountain presence. With the timely assistance of the southerly board change and rain, all spot activity within the Resort had been extinguished by Saturday evening.
With the reduced threat, the CFA Strike Teams have left the mountain by Saturday evening, leaving one CFA Strike Team on mountain alert.
Current Status:
The Harrietville Fire is current classified as ‘going’ with an active ‘front’ located in the valley alongside and below the Bon Accord Track. The area is inaccessible steep terrain, making defense difficult.
Last night (around 9pm Sunday 3rd February), the CFA successfully undertook a back burn to re-enforced the protection lines around Harrietville. As a result of the success of this burn, a further burn is proposed for this evening between the GAR (Great Alpine Road) and the currently active Bon Accord / Razorback fire – this are the closest active fire to the Resort and is considered the greatest threat over coming days.
The current weather is predicted to move from the East South-east toward the North with increased wind strength this evening – which will drive the Bon Accord fire toward the Resort. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are predicted as ‘high-risk’ - with possibility that should the fire jump the control lines and the GAR, the fire will enter the Dargo – further threatening the resort from the north-west. It is anticipated that the Resort will be subject once again to ember attacks from Wednesday.
Defense Strategies:
The CFA and DSE are moving significant assets into the Hotham area in preparation for Tuesday and beyond. Fire bombing aircraft have been already relocated at the Hotham Airport and the Erickson Skycrane (Mervin) is currently based in the Ovens should its significant water bombing capacity be required.
The MHARMB’s fire fighting assets are being deployed as part of the overall CFA resource allocation strategy within the resort.
Despite the small Swindlers Creek water flows, conservative water usage over recent weeks has the Hotham Village water Tanks at 97% capacity and the Snowmaking Dam is currently around 80% capacity. These resources have been quarantined for Village asset defense. Local volunteers on mountain have been advised NOT to use water excessively in the ineffective advance ‘wet-down’ of grass and assets. In the event of a direct fire threat reemerging, village water should be used for direct fire defense only, so as to ensure ongoing supply.
The board has completed all defensive slashing and combustible rubbish removal around village buildings and assets. The full MHARMB staff compliment is on mountain.
Village Access:
Both roads to the
Wow that’s very dramatic! Hope it goes well later in the week.
Hmm don’t like the look of this
Yep just saw on twitter it is flaring up again.
Just be upgrade to a “watch and act” again :-(
Fire over this side now, near the Hotham airport :(
think that one’s out, but here’s the latest…. and also a watch and act again for Licola…
“MT HOTHAM RMB - FIRES 2013 UPDATE
Thursday 7 February 2013 – 9.30am
Harrietville – Feathertop Fire Statistics:
Fire Area: 9211 ha
Fire Perimeter: 94 km
Control Lines built: 208 km
Line to be built: 10 km
Potential Spread: High
Resort Threat: High – currently NO active fires within Resort boundaries.
Conditions: Currently; Clear. Temperature: 12’c (expected max. of 22’c)
Humidity: 58% Wind: Due North at 33 km/h with gusts to 50 km/h.
Road Status: Both Approaches Closed – Emergency Vehicle Access Only.
Current Status:
The ‘Harrietville – Mt Feathertop Fire’ remains classified as ‘going’ and has moved into the ‘Dargo’ overnight. No asset losses have been reported to date. The wind direction has shifted slightly to the NNW overnight and has increased to 33 kmh with gusts to 50 kmh. Humidity is currently 58%.
Increased fire activity yesterday and last night has resulted in the main fire in the East Ovens catchment crossing the Great Alpine Road in many places - including in the vicinity of Mt Sugarloaf, Mt Hope, Mt Smythe and Mt Blowhard - for its entire length from the Old Coach Rd / Great Alpine Road intersection north to Little Mount Baldy.
CFA/DSE Crews were initially deployed along the northern portion of the Great Alpine Road to monitor fire activity from the East Ovens River, but were withdrawn at midnight, given approaching fire running westerly, towards the Great Alpine Road.
Reports indicate fire activity in the Razorback section is active. The CFA has been unable to determine at this stage if the fire has crossed the Dimantina River at this stage. The move into the ‘Dargo’ is of significant concern from a Hotham Resort perspective. Further back-up strategies are being developed by CFA/DSE given that the fire has now breached the Great Alpine Road.
NOTE: A ‘Watch and Act’ has been released for Hotham Heights and Dinner Plain by Emergency Authorities.
Today, Friday and Saturday remain classified ‘high-risk’.
Defence Strategies:
An Aerial ‘line-scan’ is to be undertaken this morning to provide intelligence regarding the extent of spotting and fire activity south and west of the Great Alpine Road.
Some tracks to the west and south of the Great Alpine Road have been brushed / cleaned up for fire control lines.
The MHRMB staff continues to patrol the Resort 24/7, monitoring the Resort environs for possible ember attacks and spot-overs.
CFA/DSE are on call as required for asset protection at Mt Hotham and the MHARMB’s fire fighting assets are now deployed as part of the overall CFA resource allocation strategy within the resort.
The Hotham Village water Tanks at 95% capacity and the Snowmaking Dam is currently around 100% capacity which is currently being maintained by the limited Swindlers Creek flows. To bolster Mt Hotham water capacity, the CFA have located two large articulated water tankers in the Village Car Park. The CFA have installed three water refilling ‘pools’ for water bombing - two in the Village Car-park and one in Davenport Subdivision to support the water bombing activities.
The Board has completed all necessary defensive slashing and combustible rubbish removal around village buildings and assets.
Village Access:
Both roads to the Hotham Village are closed for the foreseeable future under direction of the ICC. The GAR to Harrietville Road is designated as ‘Class A’ closure – strictly no access. The GAR from Dinner Plain – Hotham Heights is designated ‘Class A’ closure. Both approaches are for Emergency Fire Services use only.
Further information can be obtained by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Andrew Lean
Media Liaison – MHARMB
07 February 2013”
think the pool in the Davenport is a new installation, maybe they could leave it there as an ice rink for winter????
good luck to them all up there, it’s one of those horrid days down here today… hot and the wind’s a howlin’
To be honest, this gives me the heebie jeebies about cool summer guys… It’s in 2 weeks?? What happens if it’s a scorcher that weekend?
They will pull the pin if there is still fire activity, no way will they have heaps of people up there with only two escape routes.
Plan B may kicking into action 
Tambo, those updates are really detailed. Where are you obtaining them from?