Vic: Massive fire claims Larry Perkins' homestead
By Alan Gale
MELBOURNE, Dec 22 AAP - Racing car driver Larry Perkins has lost the family homesteadto Victoria's largest bushfire in 20 years, which is still burning on a massive frontin the state's northwest.
The Perkins' farm house at Cowangie has so far been the only property lost to the massiveblaze, which has burnt out 176,000 hectares of bush and farmland.
Known as The Cowangie Kid, Larry Perkins is best known for his formula one racing achievementsin Australia and Europe and for winning the Bathurst endurance race six times.
He bought the family property - which borders Big Desert Wilderness Park - from hisuncle a few years ago, his aunt, who asked not to be named, told AAP.
No one was living on the wheat property, which has been in the Perkins family for threegenerations, she said.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesman John Tindall said a shed and 300 hectares ofwheat stubble on the property were also destroyed when the blaze burning on the wildernesspark moved onto private property.
Firefighters are not making predictions about when the huge fire will be brought undercontrol and have so far made plans which extend beyond Christmas Day.
Significant amounts of smoke and ash now covered communities to the north and northeastof the fire, including Boinka, Patchewollock and Underbool.
Overnight firefighting efforts were hampered by erratic winds and 15 metre-high flameswhich tore through the Mallee scrubland, some of which has not felt flames for more than50 years.
Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman Kevin Monk said lightersoutherly winds and cooler temperatures today helped firefighters do some effective workon the edge of the fire.
"But it's awfully big and in really difficult country; dry bushland and dunes," Mr Monk said.
"Despite cooler weather forecast for the next few days, we will still have crews committedto the fire on Christmas Day."
About 300 firefighters were battling the blaze, using four firebombing aircraft andfive light reconnaissance planes.
Mr Monk said many of the firefighters who have been working for five days were replacedby new recruits this afternoon.
The fire was sparked by lightning strikes in the wilderness park last Tuesday.
AAP ag/sco/de
KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC 2ND NIGHTLEAD
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