Residents told it’s too late to flee East Gippsland bushfire

An out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s East Gippsland region has been downgraded again, after residents in some areas were told it was too late to leave yesterday afternoon.

An aerial view of the Timbarra bushfire burning in East Gippsland. Picture: Twitter

An out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s East Gippsland region has been downgraded to ‘advice’, after a ‘Watch and Act’ order was in place overnight.

The blaze, 10km north of Timbarra, is burning in an easterly direction and is this morning being labelled as a “still active, slow moving bushfire” which is not yet under control.

A change at 8pm last night brought weaker winds than expected which has helped fire crews manage the blaze.

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This Emergency Warning is being issued for Butchers Ridge, Gelantipy, W Tree.

There is active bushfire in the W-Tree, Butchers Ridge and Gelantipy areas not yet under control.
This fire is threatening homes and lives.https://t.co/GHHPP4lstb pic.twitter.com/9Gwjw4Yapf

— CFA Updates (@CFA_Updates) January 25, 2019

Overnight more than 650 firefighters in 120 vehicles and 5 helicopters have helped fight the fire.

“The rate of the fire spread has eased overnight,” a CFA spokesman said.

“Aircraft with night vision capabilities were deployed and assessments completed overnight.”

The ‘Watch and Act’ remains in place for Butchers Ridge, Gelantipy, Gillingall, Murrindal, Timbarra, W Tree and Mt McLeod residents, saying the safest option is to stay close to a building they can shelter in as conditions can change suddenly and, if away from home, not to return.

The bushfire has grown from 400 ha yesterday morning to more than 7100 ha on Friday evening, and is just 3-4km from W Tree and about 10km from Butchers Ridge.

The intense heat of the fire has created a 10km smoke column which is wreaking havoc.

Aerial images of the Timbarra bushfire burning in East Gippsland. EMERGENCY WARNINGS are current for Timbarra Settlement, Gillingall, Butchers Ridge, W-Tree and Murrindal. Stay informed of the latest emergency information at https://t.co/XZY9uDVcIn #vicfires pic.twitter.com/fHzd1Tqhwp

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) January 25, 2019

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Michael Halfpenny said the scorching conditions throughout the day yesterday, where temperatures reached well above 40C, mixed with the heat caused by the fire.

“The fierce heat of the fire and the heat of the day have risen into the atmosphere forming clouds that are now creating its own lightning strikes,” he said.

There were fears lightning strikes may start another fire.

Some fire crews were moved away for safety reasons.

About 125 firefighters were working on “asset protection” in the area yesterday, while up to nine aircraft were helping to fight the blaze.

Some firefighters were temporarily pulled from the area in the afternoon when conditions became too dangerous.

A CFA spokesman said northwesterly winds caused increased fire and smoke activity, with some aircraft temporarily grounded due to winds of more than 90km/h.

Spotfires were found up to 5km ahead of the blaze.

“We cannot afford to put firefighters at risk,” Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

CFA has an additional 120 Firefighters, 25 Tankers & 5 Forward Command Vehicles staged in Bairnsdale tonight. Ready for immediate deployment to the Nunnett - Timbarra fire in District 11. Let's hope we aren't need tomorrow. However if required we will respond in force. pic.twitter.com/q0tVsIKi4R

— Trevor Owen (@CFASouthEastACO) January 24, 2019

“We are hoping with our firefighters that they can get back on the ground and do what they do very well in terms of asset protection.”

Mr Crisp said local residents had been briefed on the fire, which was started by lightning on January 16, at a town meeting on Wednesday.

Three people have registered at a relief centre in Buchan.

About 125 firefighters are working on “asset protection” in the area, while up to nine aircraft are fighting the blaze. Picture: Trevor Owen/Twitter

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Kevin Parkin said it had been an “extraordinary summer” with “relentless” days of 40C-plus temperatures and hot nights.

He said a smoke column caused by the fire had billowed to more than 10km high, which produced its own lightning.

“It is incredibly dangerous, it can exacerbate fire behaviour and result in long distance spotting and make it pretty much impossible to fight from a firefighting perspective,” Mr Parkin said.

Firefighting equipment on standby to fight the Timbarra fire. Picture: Trevor Owen/Twitter

“The concern is that with such a large fire through the landscape and a wind change moving through the landscape that when the wind change hits the fire, the whole eastern flank will turn into the fire front and run up the valleys and ridges in East Gippsland.

“This is being monitored very quickly.”

The Timbarra fire is one of about 40 that firefighters have battled today.

But authorities have warned the gusty winds could also worsen bushfire conditions.

- with Ryan Tennison, Monique Hore and Tamsin Rose