Properties under threat as fires rage through East Gippsland
More than 1000 firefighters are battling multiple out-of-control bushfires threatening dozens of communities including Lakes Entrance, Mallacoota, Bruthen, Buchan and Orbost. Roads have been closed, trapping residents who chose to stay amid Sunday’s mass evacuations
VIC News
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East Gippsland residents and holidaymakers were bracing for the worst last night as 14 bushfires raged through the region.
About 1000 firefighters — many volunteers — helped to battle the 21 infernos that threatened lives, homes and infrastructureacross the state.
FOLLOW LIVE FIRE COVERAGE HERE
Last night fires intensified in multiple locations in the state’s east with more warnings issued late last night.
Vic Emergency warned fires were threatening Bruthen and Lakes Entrance would be under ember attack from 10pm.
Properties are expected to have been destroyed as bushfires raged overnight.
— Scroll down for live feed of latest bushfire warnings and advice via VicEmergency
Firefighters are continuing to try to contain blazes threatening communities including Buchan, Orbost, and Mallacoota.
Those in Mallacoota were warned the fire could reach the western boundary of the town.
Eight emergency warnings are in place, as dry lightning storms continue to be an issue in the region and could result in more fires.
The State Control Centre said communities in East Gippsland were impacted by the fires overnight and properties were expected to have been lost.
Impact assessment teams will be deployed this morning to evaluate the damage.
It comes as the region faced some of the most dangerous fire conditions in Victoria and, on Monday night, accounted for 14 of the 21 fires burning statewide.
Elsewhere in the state there was dry lightning moving across the Loddon, Mallee, and Grampians regions, heightening concerns for fire crews.
The small town of Bruthen, 25km northeast of Bairnsdale, was bracing for impact from two potentially deadly fires.
Flames were visible as water bombing aircraft attempted to contain the blaze which came within 500m of at least one property.
The fire created its own weather events, including thunder and a tornado-like vortex.
Predicted dry lightning and late wind changes created unpredictable and dangerous conditions that were due to continue into the middle of the night, keeping locals on tenterhooks.
Premier Daniel Andrews cut short his summer break and was last night briefed at the State Control Centre.
"We're just about surrounded, at the moment," Greg Brick tells 3AW from Buchan.
— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) December 30, 2019
He's not wrong. pic.twitter.com/Q37Id7lOzF
BRUTHEN: Two bushfires threaten the small town of Bruthen in East Gippsland. The sky is engulfed in a plume of smoke. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/jB9j9vFgnx
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) December 30, 2019
Bruthen: Water bombing aircraft out and about in the Bruthen region. A huge plume of smoke is visible. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/XqXsIA8IIW
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) December 30, 2019
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BUSHFIRES
A volunteer firefighter died and two others burned after extreme winds caused their truck to roll while they fought an out-of-control blaze in southern NSW, east of Albury.
A second vehicle working in the same area was also blown over and a firefighter on board was taken to hospital.
Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said it had been a challenging day statewide with 70 fires burning.
Victoria’s top recorded temperature was 45.5C in Hopetoun while Melbourne reached 40.8C at 3.14pm before a cool change reached the city by 8pm.
Mr Crisp said it was too early to tell how long the roadblock would remain in place for the Princes Highway.
“The point there is you should not be on the roads,” he said.
In Bruthen, 25km northeast of Bairnsdale, residents were last night bracing for two potentially deadly fires.
Local resident Aaran Lambourn was yesterday evening hosing down his home as a precautionary measure against potential embers.
“It is a sleepless night ahead, we are watching and waiting,” he told the Herald Sun.
“We are a mix between calm and panic.”
Sirens blared through the town, alerting it to the imminent danger.
Mayor of East Gippsland Shire John White said the fires were “just insane” and they had grown enormously throughout the day.
“We couldn’t keep up with the emergency warnings, it exploded,” he said.
“It is a dreadfully sad day for us in Gippsland. It is a stinking hot day and the wind has not done us any favours.”
Bruthen resident Cassandra Smith said the small town was “very calm and eerie”.
“If the fires pick up it will be bad,” she said.
Sarsfield farmer Joe Rettino said it was “quite scary” when he thought about what was fuelling the fire, just 5km from hisproperty. “It brings back those sorts of memories from 2009 when it went completely black,” he said.
In the state’s far east, another emergency warning was in place for Cann River.
Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park had its fire hydrant hoses ready and gutters filled with water.
A CFA officer visited the park yesterday and campers were told to heed official warnings.
“We have everything in place,” owner Kathleen Heyne said. “We will do everything we can to protect our campers.”
A fire near Mallacoota began generating its own weather last night, the dots indicate lightning from a pyrocumulonimbus cloud with plume to 14km. More dangerous fire behaviour is expected across #Victoria today. Stay up to date with forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/DDRfwBegeY pic.twitter.com/lmQrpL40YJ
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) December 29, 2019
FIREFIGHTERS CONTAIN BUNDOORA THREAT
A fire that broke out in Bundoora is now under control.
Residents in Bundoora, Greensborough, Mill Park were evacuated Monday afternoon, as waterbombers and ground crews worked to contain the blaze.
Residents north of Metropolitan Ring Road between Scholar Drv and Booyan Court were warned that they are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
Five aircrafts are currently battling a bushfire at Plenty Gorge in Bundoora. Residents are out on the street. Heat can be felt from streets away. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/bmopB4WwN0
— Alanah Frost (@akfrost_) December 30, 2019
Bundoora / Mill Park fire #vicfires pic.twitter.com/az1xESFt1M
— Michael Arter (@Michael_Arter) December 30, 2019
The fire was contained earlier on Monday but later broken containment lines soon after.
Filip Beslic, 24, was asleep in his Paloma Court home when the initial blaze broke out this morning.
He said he woke to the sound of water bombing aircraft overhead.
“These helicopters woke me up this morning,” he said.
“At first, it wasn’t a big deal — there wasn’t smoke.
“I went outside to have a look first and saw how scary it’s getting – I just picked up my stuff, the important stuff and put it in the car.”
Originally published as Properties under threat as fires rage through East Gippsland
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