Vic: Vic firefighters too busy to remember Ash Wednesday
Victorian firefighters have had little time to reflect on the 20th anniversary of theAsh Wednesday fires, with crews still battling the one-million-hectare blaze in the state'snorth-east.
JOHN TINDALL of the Country Fire Authority says it was decided several months ago thatthe risk of summer fires was too great to plan a statewide commemoration.
Fires on February 16, 1983, claimed the lives of 47 Victorians and destroyed more than2,400 homes.
Mr TINDALL says the CFA decision proved prophetic, as more than 3,000 firefightersare still fighting fires that have been raging for 40 days.
State Emergency Services Minister ANDRE HAERMEYER says it would have been too big adiversion of resources to have a major commemoration ceremony.
But he says the lessons learned from the Ash Wednesday fires have helped restrict lossesfrom this summer's blazes.
AAP RTV am/gfr/jmt
KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC ASH (MELBOURNE)
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