Crews are actively battling a 52,000-hectare bushfire in the Wonnangatta Valley, located near Victoria's Alpine region. The fire has been burning in the Alpine National Park for two weeks.
To safeguard historical structures and sites, several assets have been wrapped in a special fire-resistant material. These include Howitt Hut and Guys Hut, which have been in the Wonnangatta Valley for almost a century and hold significant historical value as reminders of early pastoral land use.
Other protected assets include the Macalister Springs Toilet, the Vallejo Gantner Hut (built in 1970 and important for mountain visitors), and gravestones with surrounding original fencing at the Wonnangatta Valley Cemetery, preserving family history connected to Wonnangatta Station.
Forest Fire Management Victoria is utilizing a reusable wrap made of flexible aluminium and Kevlar. This material acts as a protective shield by reflecting up to 90 percent of radiant heat and preventing embers. Heyfield Incident Control Centre operations officer Mike Dower stated that these assets are highly valued by the community and families with deep connections to the huts.
Firefighters are closely monitoring weather forecasts, which predict temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius on Saturday and 35C on Sunday for Dargo. A statewide total fire ban is in effect for Victoria on Saturday. Crews plan to remain in safe areas, relying on the fire wraps and air support for asset protection should evacuation become necessary.