Dangerous fire conditions to continue into the weekend as bushfire rages

Dangerous fire conditions are expected to continue into the weekend as fire crews battle a major blaze in the Grampians that triggered evacuation warnings for numerous communities in the area.

A wind change early on Thursday evening presented fresh challenges to hundreds of firefighters deployed to the Grampians blaze, which had burnt 68,000 hectares as of 6pm.

Farmer and CFA volunteer Tim Gubbins monitors the fire next to his property in the Moyston area, near the Grampians.Credit: Justin McManus

About 1pm on Thursday, the total area burnt was 55,000 hectares.

Light showers failed to bring substantial relief on the fire ground, and rainfall forecast in the coming days will not be enough to subdue the blaze.

Amid soaring temperatures and strong winds on Thursday, emergency services were also monitoring other fires, including at the Gurdies on the Bass Coast, Bullengarook near the growth area of Gisborne and at Creswick. These fires were all at risk of spreading.

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the Grampians fire had resulted in livestock losses and extensive environmental damage. The wind change remained a serious concern.

While there were no reports of houses destroyed by Thursday evening, Nugent warned that the fires could still exact a heavy toll.

“We have no reports as yet of residential homes [destroyed], but there are many residents [at the] Grampians, so I wouldn’t be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses,” he said.

Nugent said Victoria faced the worst bushfire conditions since the 2019-20 Black Summer fires, but insisted the state was now better equipped to cope.

He said about 600 firefighters were battling the Grampians blaze. About 100 firefighters from interstate were aiding efforts on fire grounds across Victoria.

The Grampians fire would burn for weeks, but emergency services were prepared for blazes across the state, Nugent said.

“It only needs one very bad day to be a very bad summer.”

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll warned that the bushfire danger was likely to continue well into the weekend.

“Dangerous fire conditions are forming today and will go right through to Saturday,” he said.

On Thursday Vic Emergency warned residents in several areas including Bornes Hill, Mafeking, Halls Gap, Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing and Grampians Junction to take shelter as it was too late to leave. Numerous other communities in the region were told to leave immediately.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Michael Efron said strong winds were expected to continue into Friday, potentially fanning the Grampians blaze.

“So despite a cooler day there’s still hazardous conditions because of the dry air and those winds still being reasonably strong through Friday afternoon,” he said.

Similar strength winds were also expected on Saturday with some light showers. Efron said the rain was unlikely to exceed a few millimetres.

Victorians in high-fire-risk areas were given until 10am to leave their homes before Thursday’s strong winds and scorching heat made evacuating too dangerous.

A total fire ban was in place for the entire state, and the fire danger rating was extreme for all Victorian regions except East Gippsland.

Will Hudson, who lives in Halls Gap at the foot of the Grampians, evacuated to Stawell on Thursday morning after securing his properties.

“Most people have evacuated, which has been good to see,” Hudson said. “It’s just a lot of unknown and uncertainty not knowing what the weather’s going to do.”

Although he was hopeful the fire would avoid the main town, Hudson said there were “unpredictable changes, so we wait and see what happens”.

Dunkeld Caravan Park caretaker Geoff Hinchliffe said the region had received a “couple of spots of rain” on Thursday morning while the gusty wind persisted.

There were still six guests in the caravan park in addition to Hinchliffe’s family of four.

He said he was prepared to evacuate if the fire came closer.

“It seems to be skirting us at the moment,” he said. “It’s a bit of an eerie feeling. It’s all quiet, no traffic.”

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the Commonwealth had yet to receive a request for the Australian Defence Force to be deployed but was ready to provide any necessary assistance.

Deputy Premier Carroll announced at the State Control Centre that four bushfire-affected communities could claim government disaster relief: Ararat, the northern and southern Grampians shires, and the Macedon Ranges.

Melburnians were expecting a cool change to sweep over the city about 9pm on Thursday, with the temperature set to drop by about 10 degrees in less than half an hour.

Melbourne was forecast to reach a top of 22 degrees on Friday with a slight chance of a morning shower. Winds were expected to be up to 30km/h in the morning, then 25km/h in the afternoon.

With Caroline Schelle

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