CFA Media Contact: 5330 3124
DSE Media Contact: 9412 4777
Joint Media statement
From the State Control Centre
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
CODE RED CONDITIONS CONTINUE AS FIRE CREWS BATTLE CANN RIVER BLAZE
Code Red conditions continue to effect large parts of the state this evening, whilst fire fighters have
been battling to contain a fire near Cann River.
In all, fire fighters have responded to more than 120 incidents across the state.
DSE and CFA crews were busiest fighting a small, fast-moving fire in the Cann River / Lower Tonghi
area in the state's South east.
The fire is around 60 hectares in size and travelling in a north easterly direction towards Tonghi.
Several crews including tankers and dozers and five aircraft have been deployed to the area. Fire
fighters door knocked the four properties in the Tonghi township to advise them of the incident. No
campers have required evacuation at this stage.
The Princes Highway was closed between Orbost and Cann River at 4pm.
State Controller Russell Rees warned that large parts of the North and North East of the state would
continue to face dangerous conditions until late into the evening.
He said: “Emergency services are prepared and we want the community to be prepared as well.
“Code Red is the highest Fire Danger Rating and the safest option if you are in a high risk area in
one of these districts is to leave early – the night before or early in the day on a Code Red day.
“It is vital that people listen to the radio, keep up to date with the weather and keep themselves
informed.”
Thousands of CFA fire fighters – career and volunteer – were on standby across the state today as
temperatures soared into the 40s.
Code Red conditions were declared in the North and North Eastern districts, and extreme conditions
in other parts of the state.
The risk was very real and fire services and the community were prepared.
Forecasters are predicting an easing of the current weather overnight, bringing an end to the most
difficult conditions faced by Victorians so far this bushfire season. The North and North East are both
forecast to have Fire Danger Ratings of Very High, whilst the rest of the state will be either Low /
Medium or High.
CFA Media Contact: 5330 3124
DSE Media Contact: 9412 4777
Mr Rees said:” I thank the community for being prepared and being there with us. Make no mistake –
the threats we have faced were very real and had fires broken out at the wrong time and in the wrong
places, I have no doubt that we would have been facing some very grave challenges.”
A total fire ban remains in force until midnight in the North Western, North Eastern, Eastern and
Central districts today.
NEWS 
