Victorian towns evacuated with ‘uncontrollable’ Boxing Day fire conditions predicted

Grampians residents have been told to leave now as a raging bushfire threatens more properties, while firefighters brace for conditions as extreme as the Black Summer, with severe winds and scorching temperatures of up to 40C looming.

Firefighters are bracing for “uncontrollable” fire conditions that are tipped to be as dire as the Black Summer with wind gusts of 100km/h and temperatures of up to 40C forecast for Boxing Day.

Residents have been told to leave immediately in three towns and at least 12 others are on high alert as fires rage in the state’s west.

Residents in Moyston, Pomonal and Borned Hill have been issued warning to leave immediately.

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

“Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”

The bushfire is travelling from the Grampians National Park towards Redman Rd and Long Gully Rd.

It is understood that hundreds of residents have already left the areas under threat.

It comes as watch and act alerts have also been issued for Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap, Glenthompson, Jimmy Creek, Karabeal, Mirranatwa, Strathmore, Victoria Valley, Grampian, Victoria Point.

Locals at Moyston and Pomonal have been told to leave now as the fire threat worsens. Picture: Forest Fire Management Victoria

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds across most of western Victoria, including the Grampians, for Thursday.

Temperatures are also expected to soar well above 40C across the Mallee while parts of the Wimmera are forecast to hit 38C in what could become a calamitous day of fire action.

More than 44,000ha of bushland across the Grampians had already burnt as of Christmas Day and locals were bracing for Boxing Day’s grim weather outlook.

3pm: Leave now

An emergency warning for Moyston and Pomonal was issued just after 3pm on Christmas Day.

Locals were told to evacuate immediately as the blaze headed south toward Redman and Long Gully roads.

They were told to use Ararat-Halls Gap Rd and head towards Ararat or Stawell on Wednesday afternoon.

Five separate watch and act messages remained in place for much of the Grampians at that time.

A EMERGENCY WARNING - BUSHFIRE - Leave Immediately is being issued for Moyston, Pomonal. Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. More details at https://t.co/xJ34rD0BtZpic.twitter.com/vgSLU3x5FA

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) December 25, 2024

The Bureau of Meteorology said peak wind gusts of about 90km/h were “likely” to hit the Grampians and Central ranges from Thursday morning.

They are not predicted to ease until early on Thursday afternoon.

Isolated peak gusts of about 100km/h “are possible again” from early on Thursday over wider parts of the Mallee, Wimmera and South West districts.

Changes in the wind direction will be crucial with residents in the Grampians remaining on high alert on Christmas Day.

A WATCH & ACT - BUSHFIRE - Monitor Conditions As They Are Changing is being issued for Bornes Hill, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Jimmy Creek, Karabeal, Mirranatwa, Strathmore, Victoria Valley, Grampian, Victoria Point.

More details at https://t.co/7osYC9COxUpic.twitter.com/UECQYPNueq

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) December 25, 2024

Residents in the Grampians remain on high alert as the bushfire rages. Picture: VicEmergency

Worst fire conditions since Black Summer

The fire conditions for Boxing Day — which has been declared a total fire ban — are said to be the worst since the Black Summer of 2019/20.

The mercury is set to reach 37C at Stawell and Ararat, 30C in the Grampians and 39C in the city on Boxing Day.

Meteorologist Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology said the strong winds paired with high temperatures was a nightmare forecast.

Fears are growing over severe weather conditions forecast for Boxing Day. Picture: Facebook Hamilton Fire Brigade

He said a cool change later on Boxing Day would provide some relief from the heat but winds would remain in the state’s west.

“We could see wind gusts of 90 to 100km/h (on Thursday). That’s enough to bring down trees and powerlines, cause minor power outages but also create dangerous conditions for our ongoing fires,” he said on Wednesday.

“Not only is it damaging winds, we’re also looking at extreme fire dangers. It is (Thursday) that we are more concerned about as we see large areas of extreme fire danger.

“A combination of strong winds, high temperatures and dry air, meaning that any fire that does get going, or already is ongoing around the Grampians, will likely be uncontrollable and uncontainable.”

The bushfire at the Grampians is expected to burn well into the new year.

Several communities in the Grampians were on Christmas Day monitoring the ongoing blaze, which has threatened homes for the second time this year.

Dozens of homes in Pomonal and Dadswells Bridge were reduced to rubble in February this year in another huge bushfire that burned for weeks.

Originally published as Victorian towns evacuated with ‘uncontrollable’ Boxing Day fire conditions predicted