‘Leave now’: Fire threatens dozens of Victorian towns, thousands without power
Premier Jacinta Allan has warned it will take “some time” to assess the extent of property damage due to difficult terrain as an out of control bushfire continues to burn in the state’s west.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fires in the state’s west have burned through more than 14,000ha, Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed.
It comes as an emergency warning prompting residents to evacuate and several ‘not safe to return’ level warnings remain in place for dozens of small towns situated between Ballarat and Maryborough in the state’s west.
An emergency warning for Bayindeen, Chute, Elmhurst, Mount Lonarch and surrounds remains in place due to an out-of-control fire in the Raglan and Mount Cole area.
One bushfire is travelling in a northerly direction and is just south of Elmhurst.
Another active fire is burning in the Mount Lonarch area, with some spotting fuelling fears it could spread.
Three relief centres remain opened in Wendouree, Ararat and Maryborough.
Worrying night for evacuated residents
Homes in dozens of small western Victorian towns remain under threat after a wind change steered a raging bushfire further north, prompting warnings to evacuate immediately.
Those living in Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Eversley, Glenlofty, Glenlogie, Glenpatrick, Glenshee, Green Hill Creek, Landsborough, Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, Nowhere Creek, Percydale and Warrenmang were urged to leave their properties Friday morning after a bushfire started between Mount Cole and Raglan.
The fire, which started near Bayindeen Rock Rd, is now moving in a northeasterly direction towards Avoca after a wind change.
On Friday afternoon, the fire was not yet under control and more than 1000 firefighters remained at the scene.
A total of 1,365 homes and businesses were without power following unplanned outages - down from 5000 on Friday morning.
Of those still affected, 27 are power dependent.
Almost 30 residents at Avoca Aged Care and Hostel had been relocated overnight.
Coaches are continuing to replace trains on the Ararat Line, while the Maryborough-Ararat freight line is now closed due to an active fire front.
Most of the people who fled to the Wendouree relief centre had returned home, having come from the now-accessible Beaufort.
“I’m relieved to say Beaufort has escaped,” Bob Bramwell said.
More than 20 cars remained at Wendouree, including those of the volunteer helpers.
Dinner was prepared by the Red Cross for those who remained at the centre on Friday night.
It’s understood roughly 150 people stayed on Thursday night.
Earlier Premier Jacinta Allan said well over 1000 firefighters had battled the blaze overnight, with about 5000 properties without power on Friday morning.
Ms Allan, speaking from the State Control Centre on Friday morning, said reports of property loss were starting to come through.
She said it had been a “really tough night” for the communities near Ballarat.
“The fire that started yesterday in the Bayindeen-Rocky Rd area, was extremely active overnight,” she said.
“It remains active today, but overnight we saw changed direction with the wind change that came through late yesterday afternoon into the evening.”
Ms Allan said it would take some time to establish how many properties had been destroyed due to the difficult terrain.
“It is going to take some time to assess the full extent of the damage,” she said.
While cooler temperatures will sweep through the state today, Ms Allan said strong winds would be of “particular concern for firefighters on that fire front in western Victoria”.
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the fire is about 11,000ha large.
“All available efforts are being made to suppress and contain that fire,” he said.
Mr Nugent said 59 aircrafts are currently supporting the fire, with three aircrafts from New South Wales. He said aerial support had saved up to 50 properties overnight.
“We understand at least one home and many other structures are likely to have been destroyed,” he said.
He said more than 200 residents attended relief centres and aged care residents were relocated.
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
“Due to fire and wind conditions yesterday, it was not safe for fire investigators to get there. They are now making access to the point of origin to make those determinations” he said.
Mr Heffernan said the state is in a “traditional Victorian summer pattern”.
“We see a bad day, five days of milder conditions, then into another bad day,” he said.
“Next Wednesday is looking like another fire spike day with strong northly winds and 40C tempatures.”
State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Hegarty told the Herald Sun authorities are hopeful they will be able to contain the bushfire before Wednesday.
“The next few days will see cooler conditions so there’s a good chance we will be able to contain the fire (before it warms up again next week),” he said.
United Firefighters Union Victorian Branch Secretary Peter Marshall said he has written to Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes, demanding an urgent response to restore the state’s ageing firefighting fleet.
Mr Marshall said two vehicles en route to the Beaufort fires on Thursday broke down.
“A 15-year-old Mk Pumper Tanker deployed as part of an emergency strike team broke down on the Western Highway in Ballan and, as of 10pm Thursday, had not been repaired,” he said in a statement.
“A second Pumper Tanker sent to replace that vehicle overheated and was unable to leave the Beaufort Fire Station. That truck was also 15 years old – the age at which fire trucks are meant to be retired and replaced under current policy.
“Just before midnight, the second Pumper Tanker gave up, resulting in FRV needing to deploy a further appliance out of its own Operations to complete the strike team.”
Mr Marshall described the situation as unacceptable and potentially catastrophic.
Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said authorities are working to replace the two trucks today.
Ms Symes said more than 175 firetrucks were on the ground, with mechanics working alongside them to ensure adequate resources were available.
“We have dedicated mechanics that are on the fire ground side-by-side with our firefighters to respond to any issues in response to the fleet,” she said.
Relief centres are open at the CE Brown reserve, the Lake Wendouree Football Club and Alexander Oval at Ararat.
Another relief centre has also been established at Princes Park in Maryborough.
The fire has forced several road closures in the area, including the Western Hwy at the intersection of the highway and Sunraysia Hwy.
Skipton Rd is closed between Skipton and Beaufort, Beaufort Lexton Rd is closed between Beaufort and Lexton.
Further evacuation orders have been issued for residents in: Bayindeen, Ben Nevis, Brewster, Buangor, Buangor East, Chute, Ercildoune, Eurambeen, Eversley, Glenbrae, Glenlogie, Langi Kal Kal, Main Lead, Middle Creek, Mount Cole, Mount Cole Creek, Mount Lonarch, Trawalla, Warrak and Waterloo.
V/Line services on the Ararat Line between Ararat and Wendouree will remain suspended on Friday.
Hundreds of firefighters remain on the front lines of the blaze north of Beaufort.
It’s understood a Tesltra tower is down at the staging area because of trouble with nearby towers, with radios now being used.
Along Main Lead Rd, little remained of one house, reduced to a pile of rubble.
Fire crews nearby watered smouldering grounds before midday and warned of falling debris from trees “coming down without warning”.
Livestock stood among blackened fields on the lower ground beside Raglan-Mount Cole Rd, itself strewn with smoking branches.
Over the rise, less fortunate sheep lay dead as property owners walked their perimeter with a gun in hand.
By midday, patches of blue sky and brighter clouds had appeared above Raglan.
A thick grey cloud loomed south of Wiltshires Lane about 1pm, reaching north.
Some slept rough at Wendouree on Thursday night, preferring to stay with their pets in the car park of CE Brown Reserve than leave them alone or with a menagerie of other animals accompanying relief seekers.
But with the temperature now about 13C in Wendouree, the issue of heat has diminished as people to wake up for a coffee and stroll around.
Ron and Francis from Lexton left their hometown about 8pm last night.
They were told Raglan was “gone” with Beaufort-Lexton Rd blocked off.
“We won’t be able to get back,” Ron said.
He said his night was “shocking”.
“Sleeping in the car. We’ve got the animals.
“I’ve got a dog and the dog’s used to me all the time. She’s only a pup.”
Ron said he had hoped to return home this morning, but understood Black Bottom Rd, where he lived, was also inaccessible.
“Even the people from Beaufort it’s a waiting game. We just don’t know,” he said.
Sharon Lockyer from Beaufort stayed at the relief centre overnight.
She came out in the morning to greet her two cats and bird.
“Last night I had my son at the hospital – he had severe anxiety,” Ms Lockyer said.
“The main thing I was worried about was dad, because he’s up there and he’s 85 years old and an ex-firey. My husband’s a firey … he’s going out again this morning, so I’m hoping it goes under control.”
Ms Lockyer said it was somewhat difficult to sleep for the snoring, but everybody at the relief centre had been “marvellous”.
She said she hoped not to have to spend another night, but had heard some houses had been lost around Beaufort.
Bob Bramwell from Beaufort camped at the Wendouree relief centre with his dogs Alfie, Jacks, and Lilly.
“I understand yesterday there was nearly a fire truck at every house,” he said.
“When we were leaving there were 10 or 15 trucks at a time going past. The whole state was looking after us.”
The Bramwells said they had time to salvage a few possessions.
“You don’t realise it, when the house goes down it isn’t just the house, it’s all the memories and photographs and everything else that’s inside the house that hurt,” he said.
“I’m a bit numb by it because it’s never been this close to me before.
“I think, touch wood, we may have got away with it, but it’s still a bit nerve-racking.”
Mr Bramwell said the way everybody lent a hand put on full display the “generosity of the Australian people”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the “brave” firefighters in Victoria’s west on Friday morning.
“Our hearts are with everyone facing the fires,” Mr Albanese said in a statement.
“In this dangerous and difficult time, all Australians are thinking of those working bravely to save lives and homes.”
School closures
More than 30 government schools and early childhood centres across Victoria were shut on Thursday or forced to temporarily relocate. As of Friday 5pm, six schools in the state’s southwest were closed.
Staff and students at Pomonal Primary School are hoping to return to the classroom on Monday but are waiting for further advice from an industrial hygienist.
All other schools affected should reopen next week, with the exception of Amphitheatre.
The Department of Education will be meeting over the weekend to determine if any closures or relocations are required for Monday.
SOUTH-WEST VICTORIA
Ampitheatre Primary School, Ampitheatre – closed
Buangor Primary School, Buangor – closed
Beaufort Primary School, Beaufort – site closed. School temporarily relocating to Mt Rowan Secondary College
Beaufort Secondary School, Beaufort – site closed. School temporarily relocating to Mt Rowan Secondary College
Trawalla Primary School, Trawalla – site closed. School temporarily relocating to Mt Rowan Secondary College
Pomonal Primary School, Pomonal – site closed. School temporarily relocating to Stawell West Primary School, Stawell
Originally published as ‘Leave now’: Fire threatens dozens of Victorian towns, thousands without power
Palazzo-like Melbourne home has James Bond-style garage
A Mediterranean-inspired property boasting a five-car garage with retractable roof and resort-like pool surrounded by murals could be the perfect place for an international spy. SEE INSIDE
Read more
Making strides: Return of the racehorse queen, Francesca Cumani
Horse racing presenter Francesca Cumani lives life at full speed, juggling work, kids, horses and travel but as she returns to Australia for “the best carnival in the world”, the Melbourne Cup, she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Read more