‘Please leave’: ‘Beast’ bushfire threatening 30k Aussies

There are tense scenes unfolding for tens of thousands of Aussies who have been sent a worrying text message.

There are tense scenes unfolding for tens of thousands of Aussies who have been sent a worrying text message warning them to flee from a bushfire dubbed a “beast”.

More than 100 schools and early education centres were closed in Victoria today as weather conditions are expected to put increased pressure on firefighters fighting blazes tonight.

Firefighters are battling a bushfire north west of Ballarat that is ‘completely contained’ but has a 157 kilometre perimeter and has already burnt through 21,300 hectares.

The Bayindeen bushfire, northwest of Ballarat, has been burning for a week, prompting 30,000 residents to be evacuated.

Residents in Beaufort, Elmhurst, Glenbrae, Amphitheatre, Lexton, Learmonth and Clunes were sent a text message on Tuesday urging them to leave by midday.

CFA incident controller Jarrod Hayse told media earlier this afternoon firefighters were ready to act as there were “significant fuel, weather and topography issues on the fire line that may see a breach of that containment line”.

Pyrenees Shire Council mayor Robert Vance said the fire was a “beast”. Picture: David Crosling

A map of the areas that could be impacted if the Bayindeen fire spreads. Picture: VicEmergency

He said they were anticipating a more challenging environment as northerly winds were expected to move around to the west later today.

“We’ll see temperatures rise, winds rise, and the humidity decrease this afternoon, leading into this evening,” he said.

“We’re going to monitor the wind change throughout the day but we expect around sunset tonight there could be a westerly wind change that could impact the fire ground. Dry thunderstorms could be likely as well.”

Mr Hayse said firefighters successfully created a control line around the Bayindeen fire last night and the fire had not grown in size today.

Fire fighters mop up hot spots in the bushfire area north of the Beaufort area on Friday. Picture: David Crosling

A State Control Centre spokesperson said the fire was still contained at around 4pm.

Pyrenees Shire Council mayor Robert Vance told the Herald Sun his region was “dealing with an unknown”.

“At the moment the beast is being controlled, but who knows what tomorrow brings,” he said.

“We’ve just got to wait and see.

“But the message for the people is if you have any doubts at all, leave

“Make sure that you take with you when you do leave what is really important to you: a lot of people take this beast as just something that you read about … it’s a reality.”

500 CFA firefighters and members of the incident management team are on the ground in Victoria. Picture: David Crosling

The fire is still under watch and act, and it is not safe to return.

A base camp has been set up at Victoria Park with almost 500 firefighters and members of the incident management team on the ground “to watch and act over the fire fore some days,” Mr Hayse said.

The base camp set-up at Victoria Park, Ballarat was the hard work of teams from CFA and partner agencies. This camp supports the emergency services personnel who are here to manage fire activity and support the community, a place for them to rest after their shifts. pic.twitter.com/l5ZR9Edoeh

— cfa_updates (@CFA_Updates) February 28, 2024

Five houses have been destroyed by the fire with one other severely impacted.

Agriculture Victoria has reported stock losses as 84 sheep and two beef cattle.

NSW firefighters have travelled to Victoria and the NSW large air tanker is on standby at Avalon Airport to assist if needed.

The NSW large air tanker is on standby at Avalon Airport. Picture: X / NSW RFS

The minimum security prison at Langi Kal Kal was evacuated yesterday.

“All prisoners have been moved to other prison locations, including Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat, the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall and Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara,” Corrections Victoria said in a statement.

Extreme and catastrophic fire conditions were forecast for the west of the state today, with conditions easing to moderate and high tomorrow.

Total Fire Bans remain in place today for the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central - includes Melbourne and Geelong- districts of Victoria.

There are also total fire bans in place in South Australia, as emergency services minister Joe Szakacs warned today’s conditions would be some of the “harshest” experienced this summer in South Australia.

The ABC reported two grass fires burning in South Australia at around 2.30pm.

Extreme fire conditions are forecast tomorrow for the Flinders, Mid North, Riverland, Mount Lofty Ranges, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East regions.

A total fire ban is in place for these areas as well.

Victorians are urged to keep across their emergency broadcast service and the Vic Emergency website.