Headway made on Australian brushfires

VICTORIA, Australia, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The brush fire threat in Australia's Victoria area has eased, fire officials said Friday, with three large fires contained.

Meanwhile, rainfall northeast of Melbourne slowed progress of the 1,600-acre fire in the Kinglake National Park, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. said. Spot fires at Moondarra in Gippsland have also been contained.

Duncan Pendrigh of the Department of Sustainability says firefighters have completed a large backburning operation at Glenthompson in the Grampians.

So far none is threatening homes but residents have been advised to remain alert to the changing situation.