Farmer Peter Mete jumping the fence to let his cattle out, as the fire approaches.
Photo by
Jesse Mete
It was a nervous few days for residents of Cobram and nearby townships as fire raged over the weekend.
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With CFA crews stretched to near capacity as fires spread across Victoria, emergency service volunteers risked their lives to keep communities safe.
While no lives were lost locally, sadly one man died in the nearby Longwood fire. He has been identified as farmer Max Hobson.
While the Yarroweyah fire did not claim any lives, 12 structures, many of them homes, were lost.
On Friday, January 9 a grass fire started in Yarroweyah at 1pm at the top of Benalla Rd, quickly spreading south along Benalla-Tocumwal Rd.
A ‘watch and act, stay near shelter’ message was issued for parts of Cobram and Yarroweyah, with the towns of Muckatah, Katamatite, Katunga and Naring getting the same warning not long after.
With high temperatures and strong winds, things escalated quickly and at about 2.35pm a ‘leave immediately’ warnings were issued.
The grass fire was travelling from the Murray Valley Hwy in a south-easterly direction towards Muckatah.
Additional ‘watch and act’ messages were issued at 3.50pm for parts of Cobram East, Katamatite, Katamatite East and Muckatah as the grass fire had crossed Benalla-Tocumwal Rd, threatening to spread.
At last count, a total of 1531 hectares and 12 structures were affected by the Yarroweyah grass fire on Friday, January 9.
Photo by
Jemma Cartwright
Cobram, Muckatah and Yarroweyah had reported power outages at this time and many residents remained without power as of Monday and no update as to when it would be restored.
At 5.16pm, Katamatite residents were told to evacuate immediately as the fire travelled in their direction.
Residents were told to seek relief at the Shepparton Showgrounds, as the fast-moving grass fire approached the town.
The fire was expected to reach Katamatite within two hours, with firefighters unable to control the blaze.
Burning hay bales at a Yarroweyah farm on Friday, January 9.
Photo by
Jemma Cartwright
By Sunday morning, January 11, the fire was still burning, but contained, and residents were told it was safe to return.
At last count, a total of 1531 hectares and 12 structures were affected by the fire, a state control centre spokesperson said.
A CFA spokesperson said it is unconfirmed whether the structures were houses or sheds, but an orchard as well as grazing and cropping lands were affected.
“The area is still undergoing an impact assessment,” the spokesperson said.
Local businesses rallied around emergency personnel the day after the fire started, on Saturday, January 10, in a show of support.
Max @ The Beach cafe at Thompsons beach offered first responders a free coffee, cold drink, breakfast or lunch as thank you for all their hard work in keeping everybody safe.
Ambience Bakery Café also offered all emergency service workers that visited a 25 per cent discount.
A community meeting was held at Katamatite Recreation Reserve on January 10 with Moira Shire Council chief executive officer Matthew Morgan, Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy and Moira Shire Council chair administrator Graeme Emonson in attendance.
The CFA organised an excavator and three fire trucks to break up the hay that was smouldering close to a house on a farm in Yarroweyah.
Photo by
Jemma Cartwright
Katamatite police Leading Senior Constable Charles Ryall said there had been preliminary investigations, but the cause of the fire was unknown and still under investigation.
“I’d like to acknowledge the members of the community that have suffered the loss of their properties and are undergoing hardship at this time, we’re here to support you,” Leading Sen Constable Ryall said.
“I would also to like to thank the CFA members and emergency services for everything they’ve done.”
During question time at the meeting, a community member raised concerns about the vegetation on roadsides and whether the shire was going to implement a pre-burning plan.
Mr Morgan said the shire’s immediate focus was on supporting people and inspecting properties to ensure they were safe.
A four-wheel motorbike was lost alongside other vehicles at a farm in Yarroweyah, during the fire on Friday, January 9.
Photo by
Jemma Cartwright
“If we need to look at roadside vegetation management and some of the options around that, we’ll certainly have a conversation around that,” he said.
Mr Morgan said there was a recovery information centre set up in Cobram, at 29 Station St.
“If you need support, advice or guidance, please visit the recovery information centre, 10am to 2pm every day until Friday, and we will extend that if we still need to be there providing information, advice and guidance.
“Our district has been included in the personal hardship assistance program... we urge everyone to see if they are eligible for these payments,” he said.
Mr Morgan also urged people who wanted to help those affected by the fires to visit the website Givit to donate goods and contact Moira FoodShareto donate food or money.
Donations to Moira FoodShare such as money and non-perishable pantry items can be dropped off at 116 Karook St, Cobram.
Cobram Community House is also accepting physical donations of household and personal items.
Please call Cobram Community House on 5872 2224 first to let them know what you have.
If you’ve been directly affected, are worried for loved ones, or are feeling distressed by the recent fires, Beyond Blue offers free 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support on 1300 22 4636 or via web chat at beyondblue.org.au/get-support.
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