Worst of Vic bushfires over: officials

4 Mar 2009, 5:51 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Authorities have declared the worst of Victoria's bushfires over.

Authorities have declared the worst of Victoria's bushfires over. Now comes the task of rebuilding razed homes and shattered lives.

While the physical reconstruction can begin, questions remain over how the millions of dollars in the Bushfire Recovery Plan will be divvied up.

Four major fires continue to burn, but forecasts for the next few weeks promise firefighters some breathing room, Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin said on Wednesday.

"We see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel now," Mr Esplin told reporters.

"The pressure (from weather) has been in existence for well over a month now."

People in 78 affected communities are being told that now is the time to go home.

"There's an opportunity for the communities of Victoria to start their process of grieving, start their process of rebuilding, without the ever-present threat of fire," Mr Esplin said.

He said people deserved a rest from the "yo-yo" of going in and out of their communities.

"Victoria is tired, the emergency services are tired, it's been a deeply distressing period."

Up to 30mm of rain fell over the state on Tuesday, helping to dampen, but not extinguish the fires.

Country Fire Authority (CFA) deputy chief fire officer Steve Warrington said if the fires were going to break out, Tuesday was the day.

"Mother Nature threw just about everything at Victoria yesterday," he said.

"We had winds, we had dust storms, we had rain, we had fires, just about everything possible."

It was now time for overseas and interstate crews to go home and for volunteers to get some well-deserved rest.

"It will take some weeks to mop it all up, but as long as there are no new starts, it should be okay," Mr Warrington said.

Ewan Waller, chief officer for the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), said 1,200 kilometres of containment lines surrounding the four enduring fires had held under the "worst conditions".

"It was due entirely to the massive effort that went into getting those containment lines in," Mr Waller said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Kilmore East-Murrindindi South Complex was contained, fire authorities said.

The fire, which burnt out 86,000 hectares, had threatened the towns of Warburton, Healesville and many other communities in the Yarra Valley since the February 7 inferno which claimed at least 210 lives.

"It's a really significant step and a great morale booster for firefighters and the community," CFA spokesman Mike Goode said.

He said the rain and forecast showers over the next few days will allow firefighters to attack hotspots within the containment lines.

He said residents of Warburton and Healesville and surrounding townships who had fled following Monday's extreme fire warning could return home but still need to be wary.

"Although it is great news, we do still advise people there will be active fire within the control lines, they still need to be alert but I think they can go home and be a lot more comfortable than they were a couple of days ago," Mr Goode said.

He said it could still take several weeks before the fire was declared officially safe.

The three other major fires - the East Kilmore-Murrindindi North Complex, the Bunyip Ridge fire and the Wilsons Promontory blaze - were still burning but chances of containing them soon were "probably fairly good", Mr Goode said.

The entire country should be proud of the hard work thousands of firefighters had put in over the past month, authorities said.

Victoria Police Superintendent Rod Collins said police would resume searches for missing people, a job that could continue for another three weeks.

He said roads into devastated communities would open as quickly as possible but that came with a warning.

"Our advice is if people are going there just to have a look at what devastation fire has caused, you're not welcome," he said.

Mr Esplin echoed the warning, but reminded people that local businesses needed customers.

"If you're just going to have a rubberneck, stay away. If you're going back for tourism, you're more than welcome."

Meanwhile, a panel headed by former Victorian governor John Landy will soon announce how the more than $200 million raised through the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal will be spent.

Victorian Premier John Brumby admitted those who were uninsured may get more out of the fund than the insured, although everyone is likely to get something.

"Clearly people who haven't got any support, who've lost everything, who have been uninsured, maybe they will get a bigger hand along," Mr Brumby said.

"These are all of the things that are being looked at and examined."

The insurance bill for the bushfires had passed the $1 billion mark, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said.

Approximately 8,150 claims had been processed, with 83 per cent relating to property and contents and 17 per cent to motor vehicles.

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