Locals urged to leave as bushfire triples overnight

Locals have been told to ‘leave now’ as a bushfire tripled in size overnight.

Residents surrounding a national park in Victoria’s west have been urged to leave now as an out-of-control bushfire tripled in size overnight.

The fire, which began in the Grampians National Park on Thursday, has grown from about 7600 hectares as at Friday morning to more than 28,000 hectares.

Residents in Halls Gap, Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Mafeking, Watgania and Grampians Junction were issued urgent warnings to evacuate immediately on Saturday morning.

Bushfire burning in the Grampians. Picture: Hamilton Fire Brigade

“Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the VicEmergency warning reads.

“If you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you.

“This Emergency Warning is current until 3:00 pm. Evacuation after this time is considered life threatening.”

The bushfire is travelling in a northerly direction and has reached Lake Bellfield as of Saturday morning and the entire national park has been closed.

A relief centre for evacuated residents has opened at Alexandra Oval Community Centre in Ararat.

This Emergency Warning - Bushfire - Evacuate Immediately is for Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap.

Evacuate immediately and move to a safer location away from the fire.

More details at https://t.co/ELvFKU0Ticpic.twitter.com/1lsTDjBnEz

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) December 21, 2024

The fire is burning in a northerly direction. Picture: North Hamilton Rural Fire Brigade/Facebook

Holiday-makers have been urged to avoid the area.

“We know this is hurtful for many people and we’re sorry for the inconvenience,” Horsham Incident Control Centre’s Mark Gunning said on Friday.

“But this is about community safety. It’s about keeping people safe in the situation we’ve got where a fire is now burning out of control into the Mt William plateau, Major Mitchell plateau and that northern part of the central Grampians.”

“MAY BE TOO LATE TO LEAVE”

A scary warning that it “may be too late to leave” has been issued as an out of control bushfire burns in Bullengarook in central Victoria just west of Gisborne.

The bushfire at Coffeys Rd was upgraded to an emergency warning about 12.09pm Saturday.

A fire west of Gisborne has been upgraded to an emergency. Picture: Victoria Emergency.

“The fire is expected to impact the warning area with in the next 30 minutes,” the Country Fire Authority warned at 12.09pm Saturday. “If you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you.

“If you are located in warning area, it is recommended you evacuate immediately and move to a safer location away from the fire.”

The alert was current until 12.30pm Saturday, with the CFA warning after that time it “may be too late to leave”.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Kyneton Racecourse at 44 Campaspe Pl.

Those travelling have been urged not to enter the area, while those who are unable to leave have been instructed to shelter indoors.

Photos have captured orange skies in Sunshine, nearly three hours away from the Grampians National Park, amid bushfires in the national park and west of Gisborne. Picture: Facebook

In an event that a home catches on fire the CFA urged people to move away from rooms on fire and close doors behind them as they go.

“As soon as the bushfire has passed the house, or the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt,” the warning stated.

“Staying inside a burning building will almost certainly end in death. It may still be too hot to remain outside, so you’ll need to seek shelter in another structure or last resort option.”

Coffeys Rd and Waterloo Flat Rd have been closed.

Photos captured orange skies nearly three hours away from the Grampians National Park in Sunshine on Friday night, with the fire in Bullengarook likely also having contributed to the eerie colour.

Residents have been urged to flee. Picture: North Hamilton Rural Fire Brigade/Facebook

Premier Jacinta Allan urged residents around the Grampians National Park to leave.

“The fire in the Grampians National Park is now more than 28,000 hectares and has moved from the southern section of the park to the north,” she said.

“Because of the elevated risk, Grampians National Park is now closed.

“Our incredible firefighters have been able to slow the spread of the Gurdies and Bullengarook fires overnight – but the situation can change at any time. Residents should monitor conditions and be prepared to act.”.