The closure of the Great Alpine Road between Bruthen and Ensay has affected business in both Bruthen and Omeo.

The road serves as a major connector between the two East Gippsland townships and is especially popular during the holiday period.

Since the bushfires roared through the Great Alpine Road in the early hours of December 21, the scenic route has been closed.

The popular Bruthen Bakery reported a drop off in tourists but said the crews fighting the fires had ensured the business was doing a steady trade.

“We’re getting a lot of people going up to the fires, such as DELWP, Forest Fire Management, so they’re buying food and drinks before they go up,” bakery owner, Cassandra Smith, said.

“If we didn’t have the fire fighters coming into the shop, we probably would be affected.”

Perry and Anne Burley, of Mossiface, who were enjoying a coffee outside the bakery on Christmas Eve, said the smoke in the area had quite possibly kept the tourists away.

“It’s beautiful today, but yesterday it was really thick,” Mrs Burley said.

“The ash has been absolutely shocking, I’ve no sooner put the washing on the line and you have to bring it in and wash it again.”

The nearby Blue Bee Café admitted the fires, particularly since the forced closure of the Great Alpine Road, had slowed things down.

Trudi Patterson only took over the business in late November and said Bruthen had resembled a ghost town in the days leading up to Christmas.

Ms Patterson said she was not only losing business with the closure of the Great Alpine Road, but traffic coming from the coast along the Princes Highway was diverting through Nowa Nowa to Lakes Entrance to avoid the smoke haze.

“We do still have our loyal customers who come in though,” she said.

Ms Patterson said she felt gratitude to the firefighters who had kept the blaze away from the town and had taken to Facebook to offer them a free coffee in a show of support.

Robert Logie, who lives at Reedy Flat, drove to Ensay to rescue his mother, Beth, who is in her 90s, when the power was cut to the area on December 21.

“I drove in to collect mum on the Saturday. There was a glow in the sky over the Angoras down toward Tambo Crossing,” Mr Logie said.

While power has been restored to the majority of the 1100 residents affected, Mr Logie said “it’s not only the power going out, we’ve had no landline, mobile phone coverage or internet for many days”.

The Logies were able to drive into Bruthen on the unsealed Buchan-Ensay road that is open to local residents.

Irene Smith, who volunteers at the Anglican Parish opportunity shop in Bruthen, said tourists were staying away.

“Usually a lot of people with caravans would be coming through and stopping to pick up something because they’ve left it at home,” Mrs Smith said.

“This business relies on the tourist trade at this time of the year, but with the road closed and the smoky conditions, it’s been very quiet.”

Andrea Spooner, from the Bruthen General Store, said while the locals were still frequenting the store, she hoped that the tourist trade would pick up as the new year approached.

One person not complaining about the lack of traffic through Bruthen was Dave Ellingsen, who lives on the Great Alpine Road.

“How’s the tranquility,” he exclaimed from his balcony.

“It’s normally flat out at this time of the year, those trucks are bloody noisy, I’m enjoying this.”

In Omeo, the High Plains Bakery reported a drop off in customers coming into the High Country town.

Bakery owner, Kellie Hodson, said she lost two days when the power went out that rendered her unable to bake until a small generator was acquired.

“I think the smoke is keeping people away, there are a few getting around, but not as many as usual,” Ms Hodson said.

The Golden Age Hotel on Omeo’s main street is playing host to a number of fire crews.

With about 22 lodging at the hotel and about 70-80 present for breakfast each morning, the pub’s kitchen staff are kept busy including preparing hot pack dinners for those out in the bushfires.

“We did 400 hot packs last Saturday night,” Simone Kelly, a staff member at the Golden Age, said.

The fires are expected to continue burning for some time to come with the Great Alpine Road likely to be closed for at least another week.

IMAGE: Perry and Anne Burley enjoy a coffee with Ily the dog outside the Bruthen Bakery on Christmas Eve. K1553-3127