Mick Williams and Sibylle Ritzmann look on as CFA firefighters descend on their property, putting in collar tanks for the sprinkler systems in an effort to protect Kennett River properties from the Lorne- Jamieson Track fire. . Photo: PENNY STEPHENS. The Age. 30TH DECEMBER 2015 Credit:Penny Stephens Deputy incident controller Ian Beswicke said it was a repeat of the warning given to Wye River and Separation Creek before bushfire ripped through the townships on Christmas Day, destroying 116 homes. "People need to decide for themselves whether their property is defendable and they need to know that fire service can't always be there for them," he said. This is the second time that long-term Kennett River residents Mick Williams and Sibylle Ritzmann prepared to leave their holiday home. The family of five were evacuated on Christmas Day.

The Great Ocean Road will be fully opened from Wednesday. Earlier, fire trucks snake along the Great Ocean Road near Wye River. Credit:Penny Stephens "We were all down here, ready to have Christmas lunch, and then we were told to pack and leave," Ms Ritzmann said. "We went to Apollo Bay, we were lucky because friends offered their house to stay in - they weren't around. Firefighter Greg Morris finishes the night shift in Wye River on Wednesday morning. Credit:Penny Stephens "When we pulled up, the neighbours invited us in, first for a drink and then to share the Christmas lunch with them.

"Thank you very much to them, again and again and again. They saved our Christmas." Ms Ritzmann said they then spent a "lot of anxious hours" looking at the fire billowing along the coast. "We thought ...the house would be gone, but we were spared," she said. But on Wednesday evening the couple were packing again, fitting what they could into their station wagon. She said the wooden house on stilts was in a very "exposed" position right above a cliff , placing it directly in the path of any approaching northerly fires.

Added to that, Ms Ritzmann said, was the thick bush surrounding the house, making it a "deadly combination". "It is a bit set back from the main road, and it is very quiet," she said. "[There is a lot of animal life around, we have ...koalas ...as well as kangaroos, a lot of bird life ...which is wonderful. "You have got the ocean, and you have got the bush, but it is also a risk when it is hot and the northerly starts blowing." Ms Ritzmann said they had taken a few pictures off the wall, and pieces that meant "something to them."

"There is a lot of furniture that we really like that we have accumulated over the years that we can't take with us," she said. But what was more painful was leaving the three-bedroom split-level house behind with all its memories. "All of these things can be replaced, it would be very difficult to rebuild," Ms Ritzmann said. "We have had this house for 27 years, we built it, that's why we are so attached to it, there is a lot of work that has gone into the place. "It wasn't painful to pack, the problem is what are you going to return to?"

She said the couple were grateful to the CFA and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning firefighters for their efforts in protecting their house and the Kennett River area. Ms Ritzmann said she was leaving with hope in her heart. "I believe it will be there tomorrow or the day after tomorrow when we return," she said. The fire is currently burning along Jamieson Track, impacting along the coast back towards Wye River, Apollo Bay and Wongarra. Fire crews have been creating fire breaks, with air tankers dropping fire retardant on hot spots from the air.

Senior Sergeant Ken Slingsby said the bushfire on Christmas Day spread very quickly, and that could be repeated on Thursday. The population in some townships has quadrupled since Christmas Day, with visitors flocking to the seaside holiday spots. Tourist numbers are slightly down but the addition of so many people with no local knowledge concerns local authorities. "If you're coming into areas with active fires in the landscape and it is not contained, stay informed and don't put yourself in danger and be prepared to leave," Mr Beswicke said. Community meetings are being held in Apollo Bay, Lorne, Deans Marsh and Forrest on Wednesday.

Mr Beswicke urged people to pack medication and documents in case they need to flee quickly. More than 500 firefighters will work throughout the next two days, with 20 New Zealand firefighters to arrive on January 1. Despite the warnings, some residents do not believe they are at risk. Bob McNabb, 72, said he would remain at home in Forrest, even if it is evacuated. "I'm not concerned. My plan is to stay," he said, adding that he could defend his property from his own water supply that is pressurised.

Fireworks along the Surf Coast have been cancelled. Meanwhile, the Great Ocean Road between Lorne and Skenes Creek remains closed. Meanwhile, fire authorities upgraded their warning for Wye River and Separation Creek to "watch and act" at 4.29pm on Wednesday, asking residents to leave. "Don't wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency Services may not be able to help you," the update stated.