With lightning strikes hitting the Grampians on Thursday and more predicted for Friday, the Erickson Air Crane ‘Elvis’ was based at the Stawell Airport ready to swing into action to control any fires in the Grampians.
REGION - Fire crews were on high alert throughout last week, as lightning caused a number of fires in the Grampians National Park.
Country Fire Authority, Parks Victoria and Department of Natural Resources and Environment personnel worked through the night last Thursday and again on Friday, as storms passed through the region.
Lightning struck in several areas in and around the Grampians. Incidents were reported in Mt William Road, Pomonal, Grampians Road, Halls Gap, Mt William Road, Halls Gap, Ingleton Track, Grass Tree Track and Beehive Track.
Large bushfires were reported at both Dunkeld and the Victoria Valley, the result of lightning strikes. The Victoria Valley fire burnt approximately 850 hectares of bush, before being brought under control early yesterday.
This fire is currently within containment lines, but warnings have remained in relation to thick smoke, particularly in the vicinity of Bullawin Road and Clutterbucks Road.
The storm on Friday did result in several homes throughout Stawell losing power. The power remained out for around 90 minutes across most of Stawell, before being restored.
However, properties at Joel and many in other areas around Stawell, were still without power on the weekend.
The storm also delivered some welcomed rain in Stawell, with a total of 34 millimetres (136 points) being tiped out of the gauge up until 9am Saturday.
This followed 9.6mm (39pts) the previous day, bringing an end to the prolonged dry spell.
Stawell was the only centre in the Wimmera to record any decent rainfall as a result of Friday night's storm, lifting the monthly rainfall total for February to 47mm.