Victorian bushfire destroys up to 30 houses in Grampians

The tiny Victorian community of Pomonal in the shadows of the Grampians National Park appears to have been smashed by fire.

The bushfire in the Grampians on Tuesday. Picture: Facebook

Conditions are easing in the tiny Victorian community of Pomonal in the shadows of the Grampians National Park that was smashed by fire on Tuesday.

Twenty-five to 30 houses appear to have been lost with five firefighters injured after their truck was involved in a life-threatening burnover, about 250km northwest of Melbourne.

Pomonal is on the opposite side of the Grampians range to Halls Gap, which is the tourist centre of the national park and lies beneath Mt William, the highest point in the area.

Vic Emergency said there were no reports of loss of life on Wednesday, with many in the town of 350 living elsewhere during the week.

Pomonal was one of three areas ordered to evacuate along with Newtown and Mount Stapylton.

Authorities said improving conditions on Wednesday were aiding firefighters battling the blazes, with one emergency warning still in place in the Grampians as the situation in the Wimmera district was downgraded from catastrophic to high.

Nationals MP Emma Kealy said: “Thankfully there are no reports of lives lost at this stage.”

She said reports from the fireground suggested 25 to 30 houses had been lost.

The Grampians habitually burn, with two blazes reported on Tuesday.

The firefighters are not seriously injured although a burnover occurs when fire effectively engulfs a vehicle or passes over the top.

Fire crews are reliant on modern trucks to prevent death.

As of 5.30am on Wednesday this morning, state SES had received 2700 requests for assistance since 9am the previous morning.