Grampians fire expected to burn for weeks, as warnings scaled down, residents return

The Grampians bushfire is expected to burn for weeks, emergency services say, as fire crews take advantage of mild weather in coming days to conduct back-burning operations and residents return to their homes.

The major blaze that threatened communities surrounding the national park on Thursday has now burnt through more than 75,000 hectares.

A fire-fighting helicopter shrouded in smoke from the Grampians fire. Credit: Justin McManus

Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage but have confirmed eight property losses, including a home in Moyston, along with six sheds and other structures in the town. One non-residential structure in Pomonal was also destroyed, along with livestock and fences.

About 15,000 hectares of private land has burnt.

In Thursday’s blustery, hot conditions, the flames initially spread before a late wind change brought reduced temperatures and helped contract the fire’s perimeter.

South of Pomonal, Tania Pietsch patrolled the property for spot fires on the edges of her property on Friday morning.

Tania Pietsch battles against strong winds near Pomonal.Credit: Justin McManus

She said the wind change had led to two different fire fronts, and CFA crews helped tackle the blaze as strong winds pushed it through the bush.

The farmer used water on the back of her ute to put out any small blazes after spending a sleepless night watching the blaze take off.

Ken Clark, also south of Pomonal, watched the blaze into early evening on Boxing Day. When The Age visited on Friday, helicopters dropped water on a grass fire in a paddocks and CFA crews working to contain any other small fires from taking off.

Ken Clark herds livestock during the Boxing Day fire.Credit: Justin McManus

An emergency warning remained in place as of 7am on Friday, with residents urged to hunker down in Kia Ora, Barton, Jallukar, Jimmy Creek, Londonderry, Mafeking, Moyston, Watganie, Willaura North.

But by midday, Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said all warnings had been downgraded to watch and act alerts.

Nugent said mild weather would enable fire crews to conduct back burning operations in the Grampians, which would mitigate the risk of the fire doing more serious damage.

Residents of Halls Gap were allowed to return to their homes on Friday but Nugent warned they should continue to monitor conditions. He earlier said it was likely residents of Moyston, Pomonal and Willaura would also be allowed to return to their homes.

“The weather over the next week looks relatively stable,” Nugent said.

But he warned the blaze was still expected to burn for weeks.

Willaura residents Lesley and Tony spent the night in their car with their dog Bobbi as fire threatened their home.Credit: Justin McManus

Willaura residents Lesley and Tony spent the night camped in their SUV and trailer at the oval at Ararat after heeding warning to leave the community because of the bushfire threat.

The couple, along with their dog Bobbi, were eager to return home but sung the praises of the staff at the nearby relief centre for their help.

Nugent confirmed fires at The Gurdies in Gippsland and Bullengarook, north of Melbourne, has both been contained.

On Friday morning, State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Heagerty told 3AW that while there would still be difficult winds on Friday, conditions should have calmed by the weekend.

Helicopters put out spot fires on Ken Clark’s property near Pomonal.Credit: Justin McManus

“Today, we’re still expecting some winds to be strong enough to give us that level of extra caution, I suppose, in the way we approach the fire site,” said Heagerty.

“But from tomorrow onwards, much more settled conditions, which was going to be really good for us to really get in and have a clean-up.”

On Friday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said personal hardship grants had been made available for people affected by the fires, in addition to Commonwealth and Victorian government grants announced on Thursday.

“So if you live in one of these areas and you’ve had to leave, or you have particular relief assistance issues, these hardship grants are available from today,” Allan told ABC radio.

On Thursday, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said financial disaster relief was available to fire-affected communities in four local government areas: Ararat, the northern and southern Grampians shires, and the Macedon Ranges.

Councils in those communities can claim disaster relief, and more information for residents is available through the federal government’s disaster relief website or via the Vic Emergency website.

Thursday’s cool change first crossed western and central Victoria, reaching Melbourne in the evening, where it dropped temperatures and carried the scent of smoke into the city.

A makeshift base camp for firefighters in Victoria’s west. Credit: Ian Wilson

The fire danger rating is high for the entire state – excluding North Central – a decrease on Thursday’s nearly statewide extreme danger rating. No fire bans are in place after Thursday’s total fire ban across Victoria.

Temperatures were expected to peak in the mid-20s in the Wimmera, and winds would be significantly reduced. The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled a severe weather warning for damaging winds.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.