~ BUSHFIRE DID REACH HOTHAM ~
Are you up there with the CFA or something Tobi?
Nope. Everything I’ve posted here has been information I’ve been able to source from various sources on the internet.
It’s times like these that I’m in awe of the CFA and the truly amazing job that those guys do.
It’s times like these that I’m in awe of the CFA and the truly amazing job that those guys do.
Absolutely! and here’s the latest…Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board – Fires 2013 Update
Sunday 10thth February 2013 – 3pm
Resort Threat: Medium – currently NO active fires within Resort boundaries.
Conditions: Currently; Fine and hazy. Temperature: 18’c (expected max. of 18’c)
Humidity: 24% Wind: Due NNW at 34 km/h with gusts to 55 km/h.
Road Status: Both Approaches Closed – Emergency Vehicle Access Only.
Harrietville – Alpine Fire Statistics:
North South
Fire Area: 13974 ha 6523 ha
Fire Perimeter: 95 km 101 km
Control Lines built: 208 km 10 km
Line to be built: 10 km 50 km
Potential Spread: High High
Current Status:
The ‘Harrietville – Alpine North and South Fires’ remain classified as ‘going’ and are continuing to spread - condition overnight were classified as ‘mild’.
THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR INFRASTUCTURE
Today is hazy with gusty winds up to 55 km from the NNW - the fires immediately threatening Mt Hotham Village have been extinguished. A weak south-easterly change is due this evening, however no significant rain is forecast. The humidity has fallen significantly to a very low 24% and the gusty winds are fanning the fires that are still ignited.
Fires are still very active in national park SE and NNW of the Resort. Uncontrolled fires in the ‘Upper Dargo Catchment’, ‘Morning Star Spur’, below ‘Baldy Hollow’ and out in the ‘Dimantina River’ (to the north of the Resort) - are all of concern.
The fires in ‘Alpine-North’ continue to burn. In particular the fire located at ‘Dimantina River’ on west boundary of the Resort continue is becoming active and threatening to move further toward the Resort catchment. Holding the hot edge to the west of the ‘Dimantina River’ remains critical for preventing the easterly expansion of the fire and for protecting ‘Mt Hotham’ from fire from the north. However, protecting Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain townships from the fire has been the primary objective for today. Numerous hot spots remain, right down to the ‘Dimantina River’ bank. DSE crews are using hand-held IR detectors to locate hot spots for suppression.
In regards to ‘Alpine-South fire, smoke can be clearly seen from the bottom of the Baldy Creek gully in the ‘Dargo Catchment’, some 2 km away from the Lodges at the end of the Davenport Village. There is fire below ‘Baldy Hollow’ that could potentially run up the back of the Mt Hotham Summit when SE wind change arrives this evening.
The heavy aerial bombardment of the fire areas in the ‘Davenport Catchment’ recommenced this morning and will continue all day, there are current two heavy lift bucket equipped helicopters and one Erickson Skycrane dropping water on the fire spots in the ‘Dargo Catchment’ area immediately to the south, and behind the village. Despite the heavy water use from the Snow-making dam over the last three days , pumping from limited Swindlers Creek ‘flows’ has maintained the dam close to full capacity.
The CFA and DSE crew will continue to monitor for any residual burn/embers and extinguish any outbreaks from smoldering timbers within the Resort.
Further examination this morning of the burn areas behind the ‘Davenport Village’ have shown that the areas burnt are highly variable and not as extenive as first reported - due to NNW winds which assisted in driving the fire fronts away from some gullies abutting the ‘Davenport Village’. The ski lodges ‘Peninsula, Valhalla, Kobla, IHP, Gravrot, Arrabri, Swindlers, Nindenthana, Eiger, Eumarellah, The Lodge, Vagabond and Bembooka plus the Sewerage Treatment Plant are currently considered secure. There has been NO fire ingress into the gully between these Lodges.
The main fronts within the ‘Davenport Catchment’ are expected to continue their progress and spread deeper into the ‘Dargo National Park’ and toward the ‘Dinner Plain Resort’. The fire has run approx. 10 km to the South and South-east over the past 24 hours, with several large spots ahead of the main fire, DSE have indicated the control activities are limited until the weather moderates as the fire moves through untracked terrain.
The fire front in the ‘Dargo Plains’ closest to ‘Dinner Plain’ is approx. 6 km south of the ‘Village’ and currently not progressing toward the village, rather running parallel to, but some 6 km to the S.W. of the Great Alpine Road in a south-easterly direction. The anticipated S.E wind change this evening may drive the fire back toward the GAR and the ‘Dinner Plain Village’. Crews have undertaken significant defensive preparations, including a bull-dozer control cut right around the SE perimeter to protect private assets. Ground and Air Observers are in area but smoke and fire conditions are making it difficult to get accurate information. CRB units are being located around ‘Dinner Plain Village’, plant operations are continuing to prepare fall back lines in ‘Matheson Track’ area.
Two back burns are planned for today later, prior to the forecast SE wind change. The first from ‘SlateyCutting’ to ‘Whisky Flat’ and a second from ‘Dinner Plain’ to ‘JB Plain’ along the Dinner Plain Track…
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 –
Lastest update here - http://www.mthotham.com.au/news/latest/MTH_News_11-February-13_13819.asp
Sadly today two of the DSE firefighters helping to fight the Hotham fire lost their lives. 
Currently there’s not a lot of information regarding the actual events however from what I do know a tree fell on their car crushing them.
RIP.
In other news, there’s been a bit of rain up there today which has hopefully helped in the fire reduction aspects.
That’s so sad, RIP!! Hope everyone else stays safe and no more lives are lost in these fires!
Very sad news :(
They conducted another back burn behind the Davenport area yesterday, before the rain started falling.
Very sad to hear about the 2 that lost thier lives yesterday, a friend actually told me last night about them, she’s heading down to hotham tomorrow, along with others for 16 days to assist (she’s a firey in canberra)
How terrible for their families, RIP brave people.
It seems that burnt trees will remain a hazard for a long time and may require a large clearing exercise to prevent trees collapsing or sliding onto the Great Alpine Road. I hope that this can be handled efficiently so that normal winter operations in the park can be maintained.
Terrible news I read that this morning
Fingers crossed we don’t get more hot weather. New fires started yesterday with the lightning north of Benambra and in the Cobberas.
Not to far from NSW resorts
Yikes just caught up on this. Very sad news the loss of life RIP
Azz, can you fill us in on what the locals call the area mentioned in the CFA update below?
Fires continue to be active both South and North of the ‘Mt Hotham Village’ - to the North, an active fire remains west of the Great Alpine Road in the area known as ‘Baldy Hollow’, to the South, there are several fires; below ‘Slatey Carpark, to the South, and near ‘No Name River’ in the ‘Dargo Catchment’. A fire is located on the opposite spur to the southern end of ‘Davenport Village’, in an area known to locals as the ‘Map of Tasmania’ (but one of its more respectable names) - continues to burn and is inaccessible and uncontrolled.
ok, Try my best. 
Please anyone correct me if I am wrong.
Baldy Hollow is on the H’Ville side of Hotham, IIRC where the Wind Sock remains are.
Slatey carpark is the carpark just past the bus workshop heading towards Omeo. On the left of the road is the big cutting for the road to go thourgh. My guess is Slatey dug that one out.
The Map of tassie I have never heard of, but if you stand at the end of Dargo court, Leeton Lodge would be a great view point, it will towards the south east from there. Guessing it could be the spur that heads back up to Wire Plain.