1.
GV: Forest on fire. (TWO SHOTS)
0.13

2.
GV & SV: Firefighters spray forest. (TWO SHOTS)
0.21

3.
GV: Fire advancing across scrubland.
0.27

4.
GV PAN FROM: Fire tenders on highway TO smoke rising from bush fire.
0.35

5.
GV: Dying man is taken from airport runway to awaiting ambulance. (TWO SHOTS)
0.43

6.
GV: Dying man lifted into ambulance.
0.54

7.
GV & SV: Injured man lifted onto ambulance.
1.17


TRANSCRIPT: REPORTER: "This blaze in the Still's Creek area, 55 kilometres east of Melbourne, was at one stage reported to be threatening houses. But a country fire spokesman said later that no householders would have to be evacuated. But things were much worse south of Bairnsdale in East Gippsland. All available firemen were fighting a blaze which at last reports was only two or three kilometres away from the township of Paynerville. People living on the outskirts of the town have been evacuated to safer areas and a CAFA spokesman says the blaze is moving quickly towards the town, fanned by high winds."




Initials JS/0040



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: As one of the worst Australian droughts continues bush fires in the southern state of Victoria have claimed the lives of two people, and caused widespread damage to property and farms.

SYNOPSIS: Apart from causing the deaths of two people and injuring a further 13, the bush fires have forced farmers to shoot thousands of head of cattle and sheep on charred pasture land. More than 150 bush fires, fanned by fierce winds and 40 degree centigrade (104 Farenheit) heat spread through Victoria.