Cape Otway fire at Blanket Bay Rd prompts evacuation of 140 campers

About 140 campers have been evacuated from the Cape Otway region as a bushfire burning at Blanket Bay Rd threatening popular holiday and camping spots.

More than 140 campers and holiday makers in the Otway Ranges have been evacuated while a bushfire is managed by firefighters.

The blaze burning at Blanket Bay Rd in Cape Otway — now under control — is moving westerly towards Lighthouse Road and threatening popular holiday and camping spots.

The main road in and out of the area, Lighthouse Rd, has been closed.

The CFA issued a ‘watch and act’ warning after downgrading the earlier ‘take shelter now’ alert, but warned it still is not save to return.

More than 140 campers and holiday makers in the Otway Ranges have been evacuated while a bushfire is managed by firefighters. Picture: Supplied

Paige Williams was one of the campers evacuated from Bimbi Campground at about 3.30am on Wednesday morning.

“I was awake, I heard someone say fire so I got up and checked. Nothing was outside,” she said.

“About 15 seconds later, Frank came to our caravan and explained the situation”.

The campers at the popular caravan and camping ground were told to assemble at the emergency meeting point - the campground’s office.

“We woke both our children up, grabbed a blanket and their teddies... we were up and out within five minutes,” she said.

Ms Williams and her family made the decision to return to their home in Geelong until they are given the all clear to return back to the campsite.

This WATCH & ACT - BUSHFIRE -Not Safe to Return is for Blanket Bay Campground, Cape Otway.

If you left Blanket Bay Campground, it is Not Safe to Return. Be aware of potential dangerous bushfire and tree hazards.

More details https://t.co/DpDGDW6p63pic.twitter.com/XJX6jlOqea

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) January 7, 2025

CFA incident controller Craig Brittain told 3AW they were comfortable everyone had been evacuated out of the region.

“We have got around 140 people evacuated from different camping grounds.

“We also had 22 walkers that were on the Great Ocean Road Great walk, they’ve been relocated to the Cape Otway lighthouse compound.”

As of this morning, around 100 firefighters are working to contain the fire.

Around 100 firefighters are battling the blaze. Picture: Supplied

Emergency crews have already evacuated campsites in the popular holiday destination.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Apollo Bay Community Hall in Whelan Street for those seeking shelter.

The CFA has urged everyone in the path of the fire to take action immediately as the fire remains out of control.

A watch and act warning has now been issued for Glenaire and Hordern Vale as the fire threatens to spread across Victoria’s southwest.