THE Northern Grampians Complex fire was one of the largest in Wimmera history.
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Wednesday January 15, 2014 marked the regions third consecutive day of extreme heat. As a storm band crossed the Wimmera, lightning strikes sparked multiple fires.
At 6pm, the first of several fires were reported in the northern Grampians. Crews contained some, but two continued to burn overnight.
By mid-afternoon the next day, these fires had joined. Aircraft and ground crews worked to protect houses as the fire entered private property late in the day.
That night, a wind shift caused the fire to spread towards the Wartook and Brimpaen areas. It was during this period that one woman lost her life, which authorities later stated was the result of a medical issue. Houses and farmland were destroyed.
On Friday, Dadswells Bridge and Halls Gap were under threat, with the latters residents urged to evacuate.
The weather pushed the fire south, and by this point there were three distinct fire fronts. An earlier-than-predicted wind change meant the fire did not reach Halls Gap, but came within two kilometres north-west of the town.
Weather conditions calmed on the Saturday. It took another three weeks of continual patrol and blacking out before the fire was declared under control.
The fire damaged 135 structures, 32 dwellings including 19 primary residences, and more than 6000 hectares of private land. More than 5000 stock and 300 kilometres of fencing were lost. The fires perimeter was 257 kilometres, and it covered 55,100 hectares.
At its peak, 180 Forest Fire Management crew, 440 Country Fire Authority crew, seven graders, six bulldozers, four fixed-wing bombers and six helitak helicopters fought the inferno.