Vic: Police call for patience from agitated residents

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2009
Vic: Police call for patience from agitated residents

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 AAP - Victoria Police have again pleaded for bushfire survivors who
want to get back into their devastated communities to be patient.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said a large investigation taskforce was sifting
through the towns trying to identify victims while another 150 detectives backed them
up in in the field.

"The disaster victim identification team, operating primarily at Marysville and Kinglake,
has a big job ahead of them, - it's a very difficult process and will take a long time
to identify the deceased," Mr Fontana said.

"I know people would like to get access back into these areas but it is a critical
point for us because some of these areas are still dangerous."

He said VicRoads advise there are no markings on the road, pavements have been damaged
and road signs have been melted through the ferocity of the fire.

"The issue of allowing people back into some of these areas is going to take a while
because we have to ensure the roads are safe and there are curfews in some areas because
it is not safe to drive at night," he said.

On Tuesday, anger and frustration began to boil over in the bushfire-ravaged Kinglake
district as residents demanded they be allowed to return to what's left of their homes.

The evacuees who sought sanctuary in Whittlesea said they were being denied the chance
to return home for the first time since Saturday's inferno erupted.

Authorities said they had little choice but to continue to refuse them entry beyond
impenetrable police roadblocks because of the ongoing dangers of fire, falling trees and
powerlines.

The first wave of Kinglake residents returned to their homes under escort on Wednesday.

AAP jxt/gfr/cdh

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC COMMUNITIES

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