Locals and tourists evacuated amid fears of fire storms in Victoria’s northeast, west
As many as 100,000 residents and holiday-makers have been impacted by Victoria’s bushfire crisis, with those in towns in the state’s northeast and west urged to evacuate ahead of even worse conditions tomorrow.
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People in the state’s northeast and west have been told to evacuate now as firefighters brace for extreme bushfire conditions over the next 24 hours.
So far two people have died and another 28 are still missing as 49 fires rage across Victoria.
The potential fire impact zone covers 35,000 sqkm, with as many as 100,000 residents and holiday-makers urged to leave their current locations as fire storm conditions loom in the northeast.
Emergency warnings have been issued for the northeast, East Gippsland and the state’s southwest.
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EVACUATIONS LATEST
Towns in the Alpine tourist region near Bright have been urged to evacuate now, with Freeburgh, Harrietville, Smoko, Wandiligong and surrounding communities told that if they stay conditions tomorrow may not be survivable.
Abbeyard, Bennies, Cheshunt, Cheshunt South, Dandongadale, Edi, Edi Upper, King Valley, Rose River, Whitfield, Whitlands and surrounding areas are also under threat from multiple bushfires burning in the Abbeyard area that are not yet under control.
There are ‘leave now’ warnings for Anglers Rest and Cobungra along with villages at Dinner Plain, Falls Creek and Hotham Heights.
Police are helping evacuate those towns with a relief centre open at Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Ovens St Wangaratta. Those with pets, trailers and caravans go to Wangaratta Showgrounds, Evans St Wangaratta, while those with stock should head to Wangaratta Saleyards, 99 Shanley St, Wangaratta.
There is also a relief centre open at Omeo Recreation Reserve.
Biggara, Tintaldra, Towong, Towong Upper, Walwa, Berringama, Burrowye, Koetong, Lucyvale, Nariel Valley, Shelley and surrounding communities are also being evacuated head of extreme conditions on Saturday, with the Murray Valley highway open westbound towards Corryong and Tallangatta.
Relief centres are open at Corryong High School, Tallangatta Memorial Hall, Wodonga at The Cube and Wangaratta Perfoming Arts Centre, an animal relief centre is open at Wangaratta Showgrounds, Golf Link Lane.
In the state’s east, Bendoc, Bonang, Cabanandra, Deddick Valley, Delegate River, Dellicknora, Haydens Bog, Roaring Camp, and Tubbut have also been told to leave with
a very high likelihood of fire impacting tomorrow. Suggan Buggan, Wulgulmerang and Wulgulmerang East are also being evacuated.
An evacuation centre is open in Bombala at the Bombala Community Centre at 163 Maybe Street Bombala for immediate emergency evacuation and registration.
Bessibelle and the area south of Budj Bim National Park in the state’s west have been told to leave with those in the area urged to head to a relief centre set up at Portland Civic Hall or to somewhere outside the warning area.
Evacuation warnings today have been made for Boggy Creek and Bullumwaal, Buchan South, Bruthen, Bumberrah, Double Bridges, Mossiface, Ramrod Creek, Tambo Upper, Wiseleigh in the east, with relief centres set up at Bairnsdale and Sale.
An evacuation centre is open at the Bairnsdale Football pavilion, 40 Macarthur Street, Bairnsdale and at the Sale Baptist Church, cnr Princes Hwy and Cobains Rd, Sale.
Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said 250,000 text messages had been sent and phone calls had been made to those in affected areas.
“This will absolutely save lives,” she said.
Ms Neville said people should leave “where it is safe to do so” and that the fact 28 people were missing hammered home the dangers that were faced.
As of 2pm Friday, 785,000 hectares had been burnt and with many fires still burning the potential fire impact zone covers 35,000 sqkm.
There are more than 1000 firefighters battling the blazes, with 39 firefighters arriving yesterday from the US and another 71 are due to arrive next week.
CORRYONG
Fire crews are leading a convoy of about 60 cars out of Corryong amid fears the town will again come under severe fire threat in the coming days.
The convoy is expected to reach the safety of Tallangatta by about 8pm.
Corryong is one of several towns which have been cut off and without power of water since it first came under threat of fire three days ago, with convoys guarded by water tankers and firefighting trucks the only safe means of escape.
Impact assessment crews entered Cudgewa and Corryong this afternoon to determine how many homes have been lost ahead of a town meeting at Corryong’s high school.
During the meeting those remaining in Corryong and surrounding towns were told to get out now, with grave fears the Corryong fire will join another currently burning in NSW and pose an even greater threat on Friday and Saturday.
TOMORROW’S CONDITIONS
Much of the state is expected to face hot conditions tomorrow, with a south-westerly change due to move through from the west in the early morning on Saturday.
But the change is not likely to reach the east until afternoon, with isolated thunderstorms tipped to bring little or no rain.
Temperatures will reach the 40s in the east and as high as 46 deg in the Albury Wodonga area.
Smoke is likely to linger.
Tempertures in Corryong could hit 44, it could reach 45 deg in Wangaratta and up to 40 in Mallacoota.
Ms Neville told 3AW more fires could be sparked by lightning today while a south-westerly wind change could later create massive fire fronts.
“The chances are that it joins with the NSW fire,” she said.
“Eventually it will all be one.
“If you can get out absolutely go and go early.”
Between five and 20mm of rain could fall over Victoria’s east on Sunday and Monday, but the Bureau of Meteorology says it is unlikely to do much to stop the fires.
“We may just see a temporary easing of the fire activity. but certainly with some drier weather coming up as you move into the middle of the week, it’s unlikely to be long-lasting,” senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said.
ORBOST
Three giant Chinook helicopters have arrived at RAAF base East Sale to assist with firefighting and delivering supplies.
The Chinooks arrived from Townsville and will be ferrying firefighters in and out of remote areas, as well as delivering humanitarian aid.
Residents and visitors in Orbost were urged to leave if they did not need to be in the area.
High temperatures and strong north-westerly winds were expected to put the town under threat, a packed community meeting at the Orbost Club Hotel was told.
People were told to head west to Bairnsdale and Sale while the Princes Highway was open.
Damage from the fires could also close the highway and other roads for weeks.
“If you don’t need to be here, leave,’’ the meeting was told several times by police, fire, ambulance and community leaders.
Anyone choosing to stay was asked to register with local authorities.
The town still has power, while emergency supplies including water were being stored on the football oval.
Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said if people in the “impact zone” could stay with family or friends outside of the affected area “we would ask that you would take up that option”.
Mr Ashton urged patience from Victorians who were trying to get supplies and said a police presence would remain in the affected areas while it is safe to be there.
BRIGHT
Alpine tourist Mecca Bright is all but closed as local residents bunker down for a tense 48 hours.
Amid fears two major fires could meet in the surrounding mountains to form a mega fire late today or tomorrow, campers left the area in droves on Thursday.
Most visitors who stayed the night began hitting the roads from 5am to get out of the area, concerned roads to Bright would be closed later on Friday.
Cafes and shops in the normally bustling streets did not open this morning, while the streets are largely deserted.
Even in the centre of town one home already has a sprinkler going on top of its roof, though there are no immediate warnings or the prescience of emergency services.
Bright’s two supermarkets remain open for residents stocking up on supplies, but there are few other signs of life in the town other than cars passing through from areas deeper in the Alpine National Park.
MALLACOOTA
Help has finally arrived for the thousands of people stranded in Mallacoota, and while many are relieved to be leaving the devastation — the heartbreak is far from over.
Two Army LARC-V boats – vessels which have wheels allowing them to roll in and out of the water at speed – are being used in the operation to rescue around 1000 people from the town.
Those with young children and pets made up the first wave of evacuees. Elly and Damien Koster were leaving with their four children and dog.
“We wanted to get out before Saturday,” Mrs Koster said.
“The important thing is to be safe. We want to keep the children safe.”
The view from HMAS Choules back towards Mallacoota @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/Ew2iAKpxwB
— David Hurley (@davidhurleyHS) January 2, 2020
The HMAS Choules is expected to set sail around 5pm today with the trip to Westernport to take around 20 hours.
Up to 50 people were also flown out on Thursday.
People in fire affected areas should register with the Red Cross at: register.redcross.org.au or by calling 1800 727 077
STATE OF DISASTER
A State of Disaster was declared by Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday night, due to the widespread danger to life and property in nine shires across the northeast.
“These are unprecedented times. We have not had such large-scale fire activity, such a big fire edge, so many going fires, and then another wave of really challenging weather, a week or so later,” Mr Andrews said.
“The number of communities cut off, the number of people that are fenced in by the fireground, inaccessible roads.
“This is a fire season first. The fact that we have got shift changes using helicopters, the fact we have got the navy evacuating 1000 people or maybe more.
“Our message could not be clearer. If you are in the impact zone, if you have received one of those text messages, if you get a knock at the door from a member of police or if people in your community are advising you – if you can go, you must go.
“We cannot guarantee your safety.”
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The declaration gives the government, through the Emergency Services Minister, the power to control movement in the disaster area, compel evacuation and use people’s properties to assist in disaster response.
The total area burnt by the latest fire outbreaks in Victoria is now more than 785,000 hectares. The Black Saturday fires devastated 450,000 hectares in February 2009.