RESIDENTS of Boho and the surrounding region between Violet Town and Lima have been advised to keep watch on the bushfire still burning in nearby state forest. A slightly cooler Monday and exhaustive week-long vigilance from emergency services saw the threat warning of the fire reduced to 'Watch and Act' despite it not yet being under control. The bushfire has burnt over 1200 hectares and was travelling in a northerly direction between Upper Boho Road, James Track, and Kays Track on Monday evening. A total of 52 firefighters from FFMV attended the fire over the weekend and into this week, using eight CFA tankers and another 12 owned by forest managers HVP. Eight bulldozers and six excavators are continuing to construct containment lines, with harvesters and graders assisting. FFMVic incident controller Scott Edwards said the primary effort was fighting the fire to keep it west of Kays Track. “The main focus will be to directly attack the fire with aircraft (and) heavy machinery where it is safe, to protect local properties,” Mr Edwards said. “And preventing it from entering the adjoining pine plantations.” A total of 10 aircraft were used over the weekend, including two fixed-wing large airtankers and Air Crane and Sikorsky helicopters. A spokesperson for FFMV said the cause of the fire was being treated as suspicious and that CFA and FFMV investigators were working closely with Victoria Police.
