Otways bushfire emergency: Out of control blaze prompts urgent warning in Victoria
Residents and holidaymakers in Cape Otway, south-west Victoria, have been urged to take shelter immediately as an out-of-control bushfire rages through the region, cutting off 100 campers.
“There is an out of control bushfire on Deken Bay Road, Cape Otway,” the VicEmergency alert said at 7am on Wednesday.
“The bushfire is spreading west towards Lighthouse Road.
“It’s too late to leave the area safely, so you need to take shelter now.”
However, Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardiman said a group of campers were unable to leave safely.
“We actually have about 100 campers at the Cloth Bay campground who are isolated. It’s just not safe to take them out at this point,” he said ABC Radio Melbourne.
Mr Hardiman said the campers were not in any danger and another 22 people had been taken to Cape Otway Lightstation.
‘They are very safe there. They have firefighting equipment with them, so there is no immediate danger.”
“There is an out of control bushfire on Deken Bay Road, Cape Otway,” the VicEmergency alert said at 7am on Wednesday.
About 100 campers at the Carpet Bay campsite, Cape Otway, have been isolated due to the fire
Cape Otway is popular with tourists and is a leading attraction on the Great Ocean Road
An evacuation center has been set up at the Apollo Bay Community Hall, in Whelan Street, Apollo Bay.
According to VicEmergency, there were two out of control bushfires in the Cape Otway area at 8.15am on Wednesday morning.
One fire on Red Hill Track covered 11 hectares, with six firefighters responding.
And at another, smaller fire on Lighthouse Road, 22 crews responded.
Cape Otway is popular with tourists and is a leading attraction on the Great Ocean Road.
The new fires come as tourism operators and farmers call for more support to get back on their feet after another Victorian bushfire destroyed homes and killed hundreds of animals.
The Grampians National Park fire was declared under control on Monday after burning for three weeks.
The fire scorched 76,000 hectares of land and brought holiday tourism in western Victoria to a standstill.
The park remains closed, but residents can return to their properties. It is estimated that the destruction cost the local economy approximately $2 million.