Police get tough on bushfire sightseers

By JASON KOUTSOUKIS,
crime reporter

Police yesterday blockaded Ferny Creek following complaints from residents that hundreds of sightseers were flocking to the fire-ravaged hamlet in the Dandenong Ranges.

Ferny Creek was the worst hit area in Tuesday's bushfires and the site where three people were killed and 26 homes destroyed.

Police were also concerned yesterday that too many people travelling through the area might disturb clues vital to their arson investigations.

Inspector Ian Meates, of Knox police, said some ``ghoulish onlookers'' had been asking residents to pose for photographs in front of their ruined homes.

``This has been such a shocking week for residents around here, and when we had calls from them we thought we should do all we could to do something to help them,'' Inspector Meates said.

Parking in One Tree Hill Road in Ferny Creek has been banned and police have set up road blocks at Alpine Road, Mount Erin Road and Corner Avenue preventing public access to the worst affected areas.

Access has been restricted to local residents or people with specific business, such as electricity workers, communications technicians and building assessors.

``We are just appealing to people to curb their curiosity and avoid going up there. Just stay behind at home and consider how the people are feeling,'' Inpsector Meates said.

Police were no closer to identifying arsonists responsible for igniting a chain of five fires, which devastated parts of the Dandenong Ranges and destroyed 33 homes. But Detective Senior Sergeant Adrian Edwards, of the arson squad, said police were examining ABC News footage of a man running from a fire.

He said the actions of the man in the footage appeared suspicious.

Vehicles that may have been connected with the fires were seen between 11am and midday in the Dandenong Ranges and police believe one or more adults may be involved.

Detective Sergeant Colin Brockwell, also of the arson squad, said police were still unable to release descriptions of any suspects.

Meanwhile, the Country Fire Authority's deputy fire officer, Mr John Nicholson, warned that Victoria was still ready to burn and faced another six to eight weeks of extreme weather.

``All throughout Victoria conditions remain very dry and vulnerable to fire,'' Mr Nicholson said. ``Fires this week were not just in the Dandenong Ranges but in Mount Martha, Ararat, Heathcote, and also in the Wimmera region.

``So just judging from that you can see how dry conditions are right across the state. Victoria is ready to burn,'' he said.

Mr Nicholson also warned people not to wait until they received official warnings before deciding whether to evacuate from their properties.

``When you get a hot, dry day with a strong north wind blowing, people have to be aware that there is a high fire risk,'' he said.
``People should keep their senses about them and constantly be on the look out for smoke or any other warning signs and be prepared to make their own decisions about when to evacuate,'' he said. ``It is possible to save your home but you have to be well prepared.''