Glenisla residents should evacuate now, as fire spreads north

A fire is burning out of control at Carrathool in southern NSW, while more residents near the Grampians must leave. See the latest updates on the fires.

Thursday, January 30:

An evacuation warning has been extended at the Grampians, as an out of control fire moves north.

Glenisla, Hynes, Mooralla, and the eastern side of Rocklands Reservoir and Woohlpooer must leave immediately.

The bushfire in the Victoria Range at the Grampians National Park is not yet under control, and has started moving north towards Billywing Road and Glenisla.

Authorities have urged evacuees to head towards family or friends away from the warning area, or to Hamilton.

A relief centre is open at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, 111 Brown Street, with arrangements available for pets.

There will be a community meeting at 7pm, Thursday, at the Soldiers Memorial Hall, 2 Barker Street, Cavendish.

The fire has spread to 10,157ha near Cavendish, while the major Grampians fire remains at 76,733ha, and the Brimpaen fire is at 1454ha.

Thursday, January 30 4pm:

A fire is burning out of control at Carrathool in the NSW Riverina with 112ha burnt so far.

The NSW Fire Service initially enacted a watch and act alert for farmers and residents in the area. That was later downgraded at 3pm to advice. However, the fire was still burning out of control.

The fire is located on the Murrumbidgee River Road at Carrathool.

NSW Fire Service said the fire is continuing to spread in an easterly direction away from the township and to the north east along Wade Street. More than 30RFS firefighters were at the scene and were being assisted by two waterbombing aircraft.

Also in NSW, a separate fire at North Condobolin Road, Forbes burnt an estimated area of 13ha and was being controlled by the NSW Fire Service. At Narrabri in northern NSW a bushfire at Spring Creek Road was yet to be contained. And a large blaze at Walgett with an area of 583ha was also not yet controlled.

Thursday, January 30 9.30am:

Four fires at the Grampians continue to burn out of control, as an evacuation order has been issued for Mooralla residents.

VicEmergency issued a “leave immediately” warning for Moralla, Woohlpooer, Glenisla and Rocklands residents at 7.30am Thursday. A watch and act warning was issued for Mona Park, Strachans and Victoria Valley.

It comes as significant overnight activity caused a fire near Cavendish to spread in multiple directions, with authorities expecting it to reach private properties this morning.

Authorities closed the Henty Highway from Cavendish to Horsham, and evacuees should leave using roads headed west.

Twenty-two vehicles were responding to the fire, which had burnt nearly 8000ha. Meanwhile headed north, Wartook and surrounds were reduced to a “watch and act” after facing an evacuation warning on Wednesday. The three uncontrolled fires in the region had burnt more than 1500ha.

The major Grampians fire near Dunkeld was under control, with a combined 76,733ha burnt.

Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said the new fires were in remote and inaccessible areas, and they expected it to become a “campaign fire” with the five fires merging.

“Firefighters are planning to do everything in their powers to protect the communities of Wartook and Halls Gap from the progression of this fire over the coming days,” he said.

Wednesday, January 29

Wartook residents have been told to evacuate to avoid the Grampians’ fire spread, as it starts reaching private properties.

VicEmergency issued a warning for Wartook residents at 3.30pm on Wednesday to leave immediately, as a fire started on Mt Victory Road, Grampians National Park.

The fire started impacting private properties within half an hour.

There are six fires currently burning in the Grampians National Park, and four at the Little Desert National Park.

Dimboola residents near the Little Desert fire were able to return to their homes on Wednesday.

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said there were winds up to 70kmh with hot temperatures before the cool change on Monday, and about 10,000 lightning strikes in Victoria.

He said the strikes paired with the existing fuel loads meant 60-70 new fire starts on private land, and 80 on public land and national parks. Six were yet to be controlled.

“The spread was incredibly fast, with rates of 14-18 kilometres an hour spread of the fire. It rapidly grew through the day to 63,000ha burnt,” he said.

“Around 190 people attended the facility (Horsham Senior Citizens Centre). 27 people did stay at the facility in cars outside, a number of those with their pets. 27 people, mostly elderly, who couldn’t leave Dimboola went to the hospital and sought support.”

He said they were conducting an impact assessment. The Little Desert Nature Lodge was destroyed, and authorities believed two farm houses were affected.

Electricity crews needed to access and replace a burnt pole at Peronne, with 10 homes without supply.

A Powercor spokeswoman said they worked closely with emergency services to monitor ongoing fires and assess any potential effects to the network.

“There has been some minor damage to parts of the power network from a fire in the Minimay area,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has reported a high pressure system extending cool southerly air for Victoria this week, before a high centre will pass Tasmania to Victoria on Saturday.

Daytime temperatures will reach 36 degrees at Nhill on Saturday, before peaking at 41 degrees on Sunday to Tuesday.

Willaura will reach 35 on Saturday, and 37 on Sunday and Monday.