A volunteer organisation is willing to help with the Currandooley fire recovery if asked.
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BlazeAid Inc founder and president Kevin Butler said he had been contacted by a woman who lost land and fencing in the Mulligans Lane fire at Sutton last week. However his organisation was willing to establish a base camp to assist landholders affected by the Currandooley fire too.
BlazeAid volunteers travel the country repairing fencing after major disasters. Local Land Services said 150km of fencing was lost in the Currandooley blaze that burnt out 3387 hectares southwest of Tarago from Tuesday, January 17.
But Mr Butler said councils had to firstly ask BlazeAid to help.
“We’re happy to come if asked. We don’t impose on people’s privacy. If 150km of fencing have been destroyed, we just need to know that at least 10 properties have been affected. It doesn’t matter what size and the owners just have to be prepared to work alongside our volunteers,” he said.
While some volunteers had their own caravans, others needed amenities and a place to stay.
Meantime, LLS and the Department of Primary Industries has coordinated delivery of 30 tonnes of fodder to affected graziers.
The Service’s Local Goulburn manager Aaron Smith said this was in addition to feed generously donated by the community.
The community had also pitched in, helping to unload fodder with tractors and other plant.
A total 344 sheep and two head of cattle died as a result of the fire, 113 of these destroyed on animal welfare grounds.
“Certainly the stock losses could have been higher but they are still substantial,” Mr Smith said.
A LLS vet and biosecurity staff continue to provide advice on pasture recovery, livestock management, including agistment and natural resources.
Mr Smith encouraged people to report any further damage they’d discovered. The information will determine whether Natural Disaster funding is triggered. LLS will also hold follow-up meetings to decide any additional assistance required, including for mental health.
The Rural Fire Service continues to patrol the Currandooley fire field, tackling hot spots in the Mount Fairy area. Crews tackled a smaller blaze at Yarra, some 3km from Goulburn’s southern exit at about 12.30pm Monday.
The fire broke out beside the Hume Highway’s southbound lane and spread up into paddocks owned by the Parkesbourne RFS captain. It came within 50 metres of her house but five crews quickly doused the 2ha outbreak.
The paddocks had been slashed last October, reducing fuel load.