Victorians have been urged to evacuate their homes or ‘shelter in place’ as devastating bushfires threaten parts of the state.
A series of warnings were issued for areas surrounding the Grampians National Park on Thursday ahead of a series of fires that have scorched more than 55,000 hectares over several days.
Emergency services have battled for control of the bushfire but reached a ‘critical stage’ on Thursday afternoon during two expected wind changes.
Residents of Jallukar, Londonderry, Moyston and Rhymney were warned to ‘leave immediately’ just before 7.15pm.
Similar warnings were issued after 4pm for areas around Mokepilly, Pomonal, Halls Gap, Willaura, Maroona and Mininera.
“Emergency services may not be able to assist you if you decide to stay,” the warning reads.
Stricter ‘shelter in place warnings’ have also been issued for residents who are ‘in danger and need to act immediately to survive’.
The warnings are in force for residents of Kia Ora, Willaura North, Bornes Hill, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap and the Mafeking.
Residents in those areas have been urged to ‘shelter indoors immediately’ because ‘it is too late to leave’.
It is recommended that anyone who cannot find shelter instead find a large open field or body of water – such as a dam, lake or underground pool – and do whatever they can to protect themselves from the heat of the fire .
Residents of Kia Ora, Willaura North, Bornes Hill, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap and the Mafeking have been told to ‘seek shelter’
Thousands of Victorians have been urged to evacuate their homes or ‘seek shelter’ as fires continue to rage through the Grampians National Park (pictured)
Residents in areas surrounding the Grampian National Park, including Dunkeld, Mirranatwa, Victoria Creek, Rocky Point, Deep Lead and Black Range, have also been urged to ‘watch and act’.
Everyone in Bullengarook, northwest of Melbourne, has been given the same warning for a separate fire near Coffeys Road.
‘The situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be prepared to take action,” the warning reads.
Much of south-eastern Australia is enveloped in windy heat causing catastrophic conditions.
Hot, dry air is covering parts of Victoria, south-west NSW and much of eastern South Australia, while damaging winds are fueling the extreme fire danger.
The mercury was expected to reach the high 30s or 40s across much of Victoria and inland Australia on Thursday.
Two wind changes were likely to impact the Grampians: one passing through around 3pm and a stronger south-westerly arrival around 6pm.
By mid-afternoon, Victoria State Control Center spokesman Luke Hegarty said firefighters were reaching a “critical part” of the day.
“We expect strong winds and variable winds to be an issue over the next few hours,” he said.
More than 55,000 hectares have been scorched as firefighters battled the blaze in recent days
Firefighters reached a ‘critical stage’ on Thursday as two wind changes that broke through around 3pm and a stronger south-westerly arrival around 6pm were likely to impact the Grampians.
Residents in areas surrounding the National Park have been told to stay abreast of current bushfire warnings as conditions can change quickly
Incident controller Mark Gunning said the scenario could see the fires spread unpredictably.
“When the wind blows over the mountain ranges in the Grampians it will create its own conditions,” he said.
All but one of Victoria’s regions are facing extreme risks, with a total fire ban also in place for many regions in South Australia.
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said Victorian fires in the Grampians, Bullengarook, the Gurdies and Creswick remained a concern.
The out-of-control fire in the Grampians National Park has raged for days and scorched more than 55,000 hectares.
“I wouldn’t be surprised at some point if we have housing losses,” Nugent told reporters Thursday afternoon.
Hot, dry air blankets parts of Victoria, southwestern NSW and much of eastern South Australia as damaging winds fuel extreme fire danger
The Bureau of Meteorology fears the weather conditions could worsen the fires raging through the Grampians.
Prime Minister Jacinta Allan also issued a stern message amid the worst conditions in the state since the Black Summer of 2019.
“Today is a day of total fire ban across Victoria. Don’t be ad**khead. No fires should be lit,” she said on social media.
Halls Gap Zoo has started evacuating animals to Werribee Zoo with sprinklers keeping the remaining animals cool.
Emergency assistance with running shelters, psychological first aid and financial guidance, and evacuations, clean-ups and road diversions are available to the Ararat Rural City Council, Macedon Ranges, Northern Grampians and Southern Grampians Shires.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore feared expected strong, hot, dry winds could overwhelm the Grampians.
“Under these conditions, any fire will be out of control and out of control,” he said.
As a cool change washes over Victoria on Thursday night, hot, dry conditions will move into central north-east NSW, bringing extreme danger on Friday.
Total fire bans have been declared for the Hunter, Greater Sydney, North Western and Northern Slopes regions.