Emergency fire warning is issued in Victoria as dozens of out of control bushfires rage across Australia’s south-east: Gippsland residents told ‘leave immediately’, fire ban in Sydney

Thousands of residents have been told that ‘leaving immediately is the safest option’, with three emergency bushfire warnings issued for Victoria’s Gippsland region.

Warnings were issued for Stockdale, Iguana Creek and Glenaladale between the Princes Highway and Beverleys Road by Victoria Emergency at 5.59am on Tuesday.

Three out-of-control fires are burning in the area, fueled by wild weather and destroying at least one home.

They include Duffy Rd, Briagolong, where residents have been told it is now too late to leave after conditions deteriorated.

Bushfire warnings have also been issued south of the border in NSW, with a total fire ban in place throughout the Greater Sydney and Hunter regions, Far South Coast, Northern Slopes, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Lower Central West Plains and Central Ranges .

“Extreme and high fire danger is forecast across NSW,” said a warning from the NSW Rural Fire Service.

It comes as dozens of fires rage across both states, with hot and windy conditions forecast across much of south-eastern Australia.

The emergency level bushfire on Duffy Rd, Briagolong rapidly approaching the Princes Highway with strong winds increase the speed of the fire.

‘Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option; conditions can change and deteriorate quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay,” the latest alert said.

Residents of Briagolong North have since been ordered to ‘shelter indoors immediately’ as it was ‘too late to leave’.

“This fire threatens homes and lives,” reads a warning.

Residents of Loch Sport and Seacombe have also been told to seek shelter as a raging bushfire heads towards the towns.

“Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire and it has now crossed the Longford-Loch Sport Road and is moving towards the south-east,” the alert said.

Wild winds from a forecast cold front have complicated firefighting efforts in Victoria.

The largest fire front covers 5,000 hectares of difficult terrain north of Maffra in the Briagolong, Culloden, Moornapa and Stockdale regions.

Strong winds have sparked a number of bushfires in Victoria’s Gippsland region

Hot and windy conditions are forecast for Sydney on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius in the city, along with gusts of up to 40km/h in the morning.

Melbourne is forecast to be hit by similar wind conditions, but up to 40mm of rain is expected to fall. It will be a cooler 22 degrees.

Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said the next 24 hours would be interesting, with wild winds accompanied by a cold front that will make conditions more difficult.

Heavy rainfall forecast later in the week should provide much-needed relief, but would only interrupt the fire risk in the Gippsland area after a very warm and dry start to the season.

“Right now we’re dealing with a fire situation affecting families in East Gippsland, and less than 24 hours later there’s an emergency rain situation affecting the same communities.”

Authorities in Victoria will be on high alert for the next 24 hours

Senior meteorologist Christine Johnson said a cold front would bring damaging wind gusts to fire-affected areas from 4pm on Monday until the early hours of Tuesday morning – the most damaging before 6am.

Another low-pressure system is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding from Wednesday.

Victoria State Emergency Service Chief Operations Officer Tim Wiebusch said Bairnsdale on the NSW border would be hardest hit by heavy rain, with moderate flooding expected for the Mitchell, Tambo, Snowy and Genoa rivers.