Bunkers Hill grassfire triggers terrifying explosion
Terrifying footage of an out-of-control grassfire in Victoria shows an exploding fireball.
An out-of-control grassfire has destroyed buildings near Ballarat in Western Victoria, with terrifying footage showing an exploding fireball and a shed and cars on fire.
An emergency warning for the Bunkers Hill blaze has been downgraded to a watch and act as conditions ease amid a cool change.
Earlier this afternoon emergency services warned residents in Bunkers Hill, Haddon, Lucas, Ross Creek and Smythes Creek yesterday afternoon that it was too late to leave, as 80km/h winds fanned the blaze, 10km southwest of Ballarat.
An emergency warning remains in place for a separate fire near Meredith, between Ballarat and Geelong, with residents of Meredith, Mount Mercer and Bamganie told to seek shelter as it is too late to leave.
Terrifying footage of the Bunkers Hill blaze shows sheds and cars being destroyed and a fireball exploding, with more than 130ha of semirural land on Ballarat’s outskirts incinerated.
Breaking: It's believed at least one home has been lost in the Bunkers Hill fire. Several explosions have happened in the area @9NewsWesternVIC @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/adPr90kyTu
— Joseph Ogilvie (@jogilvie17) March 29, 2019
Heartbreaking pictures on @abcnews of Bunkers Hill fire near Ballarat destroying homes and buildings. The CFA says several properties have been impacted by fire. It has just started to rain, but emergency warning still in place @ABCemergency #vicfires pic.twitter.com/cJYbiuGnAU
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) March 29, 2019
More than 60 vehicles and waterbombing aircraft have been battling the blaze, which is moving in an easterly direction.
About 30 fire vehicles have been tackling the Mount Mercer blaze, which is travelling east from the Leigh River towards Bamganie Road.
Authorities remain concerned that the cool change which is currently crossing Victoria could bring lightning strikes and the possibility of further fires, particularly in Gippsland and the state’s northeast.
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