‘Too late to leave’ for residents in western Victorian towns as firefighters battle fierce conditions
A total fire ban has been issued across Victoria as firefighters face a growing blaze in the state’s west amid conditions described as ‘the worst since the 2019-20 fire season’.
Residents in a number of western Victorian towns have been told it is too late to leave, while authorities are urging others in the area to evacuate as an out-of-control fire continues to burn through the Grampians National Park.
The warning to “take shelter now” was issued for Kia Ora, Willaura North, Bornes Hill, Mafeking, Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction and Halls Gap.
A predicted westerly wind change arrived on the fire ground and had pushed the fire in an easterly direction. Eight emergency warnings remain in place across the Grampians region, with residents in Willaura, Moyston, Maroona and Streatham in particular urged to leave immediately.
A total fire ban was issued across Victoria for Boxing Day as firefighters continue to battle the growing blaze amid challenging conditions described by authorities as “the worst since the 2019-20 fire season”.
Emergency warnings to leave immediately were issued on Thursday afternoon for other communities across the Grampians region as weather conditions changed, with strengthened winds pushing the fire across control lines.
Residents have been told that emergency services may not be able to assist if they decide to stay.
Erratic winds have caused fires to spread while a wind change with gusts up to 100km/h was expected to exacerbate the fire from 6pm on Thursday.
“That fuel load is even more susceptible to ignite, and the ember attack coming across with very, very strong winds coming on the easterly flank of the Grampians range is having a massive impact,” Ararat mayor Jo Armstrong said.
Extreme fire danger was forecast for most of the state, with strong winds predicted and temperatures expected to soar to up to 42C on Thursday.
A change in wind direction that was expected to hit the western districts in the late afternoon or early evening would present an additional challenge for firefighters, a State Control Centre spokesperson said.
Thick smoke is now affecting the area, with the Glenelg Highway between Dunkeld and Wickcliffe now closed.
A communications tower at Mount William was affected by the fires, with residents being warned to used ABC radio to remain informed as mobile and internet services are disrupted.
Emergency services have continually advised people to use multiple information sources to stay up to date with the dangers.
“The active fire region is 22 kilometres in size, so it’s fairly significant,” the spokesperson said.
“Given the wind change and the actual heat at the moment, anything is possible.
“It is a very dynamic situation.”
The spokesperson said the fire had changed directions on Christmas night, and had grown from 44 to 53 hectares.
The fire has burned about 72,000 hectares, CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan told ABC News on Thursday night.
He said that he expected an easing of fire conditions on Friday, but there could be more dangerous conditions around New Year’s Day.
“We’re looking at about five days reprieve before we start to see the next build up of a fire day, so firefighters have some opportunity in the days coming to, to start to strengthen control lines and get the Grampians fire back under control. But it’s going to be many, many weeks of work because that fire is quite large,” he said.
Mr Heffernan went on to thank communities for their preparation ahead of the devastating fires.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we are just so thankful for the work of community and everything that they have done to make sure that they prepared for today, which really did allow emergency services to do what they do best. And that’s been out there protecting our Victorian communities.”
It is too early to tell when communities will be able to return home with the CFA saying they will liaise with communities at the relief centres to give them the best information about when it will be safe to return.
Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the Grampians fire had caused “considerable environmental damage”. He said it was believed there had been livestock losses as well as damage to fences, outbuildings and sheds.
“We have no reports as yet of residential homes [being damaged], but there are many residential homes in the bush areas on the edges of the Grampians, so I wouldn’t be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses,” Mr Nugent said.
“But firefighters … are doing everything possible to protect life and protect property.”
In addition to the Grampians fire, which is likely to keep burning for weeks, authorities are concerned about other blazes in The Gurdies, Bullengarook and Creswick. The fires have not moved from their containment lines on Thursday night.
Homes were at risk from all four fires, Mr Nugent confirmed.
Residents in Bornes Hill and Mafeking near the Grampians National Park have been told they are in danger and need to shelter indoors immediately because it is too late to leave.
As of Thursday afternoon, residents in Strathmore were being urged to leave immediately.
Watch and Act warnings were issued for several communities across Victoria, including for Jallukar, Londonderry, Moyston, Rhymney, Willaura North, Kia Ora and Willaura, with those residents being told that leaving immediately was the safest option.
A Watch and Act warning was also issued for Gazette, with residents there being advised to stay close to a building where they can shelter.
Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll urged Victorians to follow the advice of authorities.
“Leaving early is the only way to guarantee the safety of you, your loved ones and your family,” he said.
“Always be aware that new fires can start anywhere, and become dangerous very quickly, especially when there are winds at 90km/h to 100 km/h,” he said.
Mr Carroll said dangerous conditions would continue until Saturday.
“We are not through this at all,” he said.
“The fire we are most worried about is the fire we do not know of.”
Mr Carroll announced that joint state and federal government disaster assistance funding was available for affected communities.
Earlier on Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather update for “extreme and dangerous fire conditions” through much of Victoria, including the potential for winds in excess of 90 km/h.
“Of most concern, is those winds are … forecast over the Grampians National Park, where we have a very large and dangerous and complex fire going there at the moment and it’s likely to get even worse as we move through the day time hours,” meteorologist Dean Narramore said.
“The combination of winds, high temperatures and low humidity is leading to dangerous fire conditions meaning the fire today will be uncontrollable and uncontainable and lead to dangerous and erratic fire behaviour.”
About 600 firefighters are battling the blaze, and about 100 personnel from interstate have been deployed to assist local crews.
Authorities are encouraging Victorians to avoid unnecessary travel on Boxing Day and to ensure they have a bushfire survival plan in place.
Victorians are being urged to stay up to date with the latest conditions via the VicEmergency app or website or the emergency services broadcaster.
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