‘Could burn for weeks’: Dire warning as bushfires worsen over Christmas

Bushfire conditions are expected to worsen in the coming days as temperatures soar across Victoria, after residents evacuate high danger areas.

Residents in Halls Gap have been evacuated and others have been urged to consider their safety plan as multiple bushfires continue raging across western areas of regional Victoria, which are expected to spike again as temperatures rise over Christmas.

The bushfire, which first started at the Grampians National Park on Thursday, has now exceeded 34,000 hectares in size and. has a fire perimeter of 192km.

More than 300 firefighters are battling to keep the blaze under control.

Residents in Halls Gap, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction and Fyans Creek have been told to leave immediately.

“Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay,” a statement from VicEmergency read.

Residents have been urged to leave as multiple bushfires continue raging across western areas of regional Victoria. Picture: Supplied

The Grampians National Park was closed to visitors on Saturday and residents in Halls Gap have been evacuated as the dangerous flames continue.

Relief centres are open in Stawell and Ararat.

VicEmergency incident controller Aaron Kennedy said it was exceedingly difficult to keep the blaze under control due to the “very steep and difficult terrain”.

“Our firefighting operations have been hampered by quite significant winds and an underlying fuel dryness,” he said.

The ongoing rain deficiencies across western Victoria and the Grampians National Park over the last 12 months has triggered “significant spotting” and is encouraging bushfires to ignite “very easily”.

“(The current conditions are) making it very difficult to contain these fires as they occur,” Mr Kennedy said.

“The fire could burn for weeks, as Grampians National Park has a lot of fuel and very little rain has been forecast,” a statement read.

Despite best efforts from crews, Mr Kennedy said the fire in the Grampians would be exceedingly difficult to contain before the end of the year.

“We expect we’ll be dealing with this fire well into January,” he said.

The fire has been difficult to contain as hot and windy weather fuels further burning. Picture: Supplied

Residents in Halls Gap have been evacuated as flames continue to ravage the region. Picture: Supplied

The upcoming hot and windy conditions across Victoria this week will only make it more difficult to battle the bushfires.

In Melbourne, temperatures are forecast to reach 30C on Christmas Day and 38C on Boxing Day.

It will be hotter in regional areas of the state, with Stawell and Ararat expected to reach 35C on Christmas Day and 39C on Boxing Day.

“We know with the forecast ahead that Christmas Day and Boxing Day are both going to be days of elevated high fire danger,” Mr Kennedy said.

“So in preparation for that, we’re working extremely hard to strenghten our containment lines across the fireground.”

The fires are likely to continue raging for several days as hot temperatures continue. Picture: Supplied

There are several active bushfires in western parts of Victoria, including in Creswick,

Bullengarook, Lerderderg and Munt Macedon.

On Sunday morning, a bushfire warning was issued for residents on Coffeys Rd, Bullengarook, who have been told to watch and act, and monitor the conditions as they are changing.

“The bushfire is travelling from Coffeys Road in a north-easterly direction towards Mulcahy Road and Waterloo Flat Road,” a statement read.

“Crews have been able to slow the spread of fire for now, but the situation can change at any time.”

Originally published as ‘Could burn for weeks’: Dire warning as bushfires worsen over Christmas