THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) will hold a teleconference today to assess what assistance graziers affected by this week’s fires, north-east of Benalla, require.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) said the Lake Rowan fire burned more than 5600 hectares of pasture land and sections of the Warby-Ovens National Park.
About 2000 head of stock, mainly sheep, one house and several buildings were believed to have been burned.
VFF livestock group president Ian Feldtmann said head office would be conducting a teleconference call, to see what assistance was required.
“The VFF has already been making contact with producers we have been told have suffered stock losses - we are certainly making it clear, through our network, we will assist in any way,” Mr Feldtmann said.
“VFF head office will co-ordinate a teleconference today, to see what assistance is needed and where it’s needed.
“We will be keeping a very close eye on it, and will be looking to assist in whatever way is required.”
Mick Curtis, of Newmarket Livestock, said it would be several days before the full extent of the damage was known.
It was likely losses would not be as high as initially expected, as travel restrictions were making it difficult to fully assess the damage.
“It’s all grazing country, there will be a few moving stock to other farms and a few animals are going straight to abattoirs,” Mr Curtis said.
“We will need to get some sheep out, but everyone has plenty of stock on and there is not a lot of surplus pasture.”
The CFA’s Wangaratta incident controller Ross Williamson said the Stewarton fire burned through 2602 hectares of private land, including several farm buildings and many kilometres of fencing.
The fire was now under control, but crews continued to patrol its perimeter and black out hot spots.
Crews were concentrating efforts on two areas of concern within the Warby-Ovens National Park.
"The Lake Rowan fire will take a few more days to contain," Mr Williamson said.
Traffic management points have been set up around the Lake Rowan fire limiting access to through traffic.
Landholders are able to obtain an identification wrist band from the Wangaratta incident control centre, Ely Street, Wangaratta, to access their properties if conditions were safe, he said.
AusNet was also repairing power lines damaged in the Stewartson fire, as a number of properties were still without electricity.
Mr Feldtmann said in the next few days, property owners would be assessing structural damage to fencing, while those not affected by the fires would be seeking to help those who were.
“In the next few days, they will be coming to terms with how they have been affected by the fire,” Mr Feldtmann said.
Bungeet grazier Doug James said the fire raced right through his property, from the northern to the southern boundary.
“We have insurance, but we will be a bit under on sheep and fencing in our situation – I never believed we would lose the whole farm,” Mr James said.
Only 40ah of the 1295ha property remained untouched, with 1100 sheep killed in the fire.
About 1700 ewes and weaners had survived the fire, while lambs which were going to be sold would now be retained as replacements.
“I have had some offers of agistment and there has been a bit of hay delivered today, it’s just a matter of crunching some numbers and trying to hang on to the 1700 ewes on hand and first cross ewe weaners,” Mr James said.
“We have been touched by the way people care.”
The fencing on the property was “fairly knocked around”, either by fire or falling trees, he said.
For fire information call 1800 240 667.