'Grave concerns' for communities in Victoria as out-of-control fire burns

Victorians bracing for more extreme weather

There are “grave concerns” for dozens of communities in Victoria’s west as a monster fire approaches towns just outside of Ballarat, with spot fires being thrown hundreds of metres ahead of the firefront.

More than 30 communities have been told to evacuate as 1000 firefighters battle the out-of-control fire between Ballarat and Ararat on the Bayindeen-Rocky Road at Bayindeen, in the Pyrenees Ranges.

It comes as the state faces dangerous fire conditions again today, with high temperatures and strong winds triggering a total fire ban.

The bushfire is just 60 kilometres from a devastating fire that wiped out almost half of the town of Pomonal’s homes and businesses a week ago.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed there were more than 1000 firefighters on the ground fighting the 5000-hectare fire, while 24 aircraft water-bombed it from above.

It’s expected conditions will worsen in the coming hours, with the fire now threatening homes, lives and properties.

“It’s going to continue to be a difficult few hours and of grave concern is the large fire that is out of control and moving east around the Beaufort area,” Allan said.

“This fire is moving very quickly, with spot fires being thrown hundreds of metres ahead of the fire front.”

“If you’re located in these areas, please heed the advice and act now to save your own life.”

Premier Jacinta Allan told communities to evacuate.

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The state emergency service issued the emergency warning for communities at Ballyrogan, Bayindeen, Beaufort, Ben Nevis, Brewster, Buangor, Buangor East, Chute, Cross Roads, Ercildoune, Eurambeen, Eversley, Glenbrae, Glenlogie, Lake Goldsmith, Langi Kal Kal, Lexton, Main Lead, Mena Park, Middle Creek, Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, Nerring, Raglan, Shirley, Stockyard Hill, Trawalla, Waterloo.

The communities have been told to leave immediately.

Nine other communities were told to evacuate around 6.30pm, with authorities issuing a “leave now” alert for Addington, Brewster, Burrumbeet, Ercildoune, Glenbrae, Lexton, Trawalla, Waubra and Weatherboard.

Authorities urged residents to leave before conditions became too dangerous.

Residents are being told to head towards Ballarat to escape the fire.

Spot fires are being thrown hundreds of metres ahead of the fire front.

Relief centres have been set up at the Learmonth Football Ground at Learmonth.

The communities of Addington, Brewster, Burrumbeet, Ercildoune, Glenbrae, Lexton, Trawalla, Waubra, Weatherboard are being told to leave now if they can as the fire approaches the area.

Residents in Amphitheatre, Avoca, Burnbank, Caralulup, Chute, Elmhurst, Evansford, Eversley, Glenlogie, Glenpatrick, Green Hill Creek, Lamplough, Lexton, Lillicur, Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, Nowhere Creek, Percydale, Rosyth, Talbot, Warrenmang, Waubra are also advised to leave now if possible or act now.

The Western Highway has been closed between Ballarat and Ararat, while the Langi Kal Kal Prison is preparing to be evacuated.

Train lines between the towns have also been suspended.

The fire is close to the community of Beaufort.

Large plumes of smoke has filled the area.

CFA chief fire officer Jason Heffernan said the fire had been started by hot conditions and strong winds.

He said wind changes from 6pm would worsen conditions up until midnight.

“The fire situation will get worse before it gets better,” he said.

“Those strong winds will turn one side of the fire into the main fire front and will bring more communities under threat tonight.

“If you’re in the emergency warning area, the advice is to leave now and go to Ballarat.”

The bushfire is just 60 kilometres from a devastating fire that wiped out almost half of the town of Pomonal’s homes and businesses a week ago.

There is spotting up to 10 kilometres ahead of the main fire and it’s understood fire crews are working to save properties and farmhouses about two kilometres from the fire.

The fire is about 15 kilometres from the township of Beaufort, and around 10 kilometres away from the Western Highway.

Large plumes of smoke have filled the air in local areas.

Heffernan said more strike teams were heading out to the areas tonight and tomorrow.

“This fire will travel further and further,” he said.

“It is going to be a large operation to contain control lines.”

Students in the 31 Victorian local government areas facing extreme fire danger on Thursday have been temporarily relocated, including pupils from multiple schools in Melbourne’s north-east.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Christie Johnson said today’s conditions were more dangerous for fires, but added strong winds could cause serious damage.

Around 37 homes in storm-ravaged areas were deemed “inhabitable” and more than 44 were destroyed by fire after wild weather last week.

“Last week’s system was very unusual in that it had catastrophic fire danger but also enough moisture in the air to provide a lot of energy to the thunderstorms,” Johnson said.

“That said, there still is very extreme fire dangers, so if we do see fires develop they could be very difficult to contain…it could still be a very dangerous day.

“If there were any trees or infrastructure that were weakened last week, we could still see winds bringing down some branches, perhaps putting debris across the road, perhaps impacting some powerlines.”

There’s the front we’re expecting later today folks! It’s wild out there so avoid parking near trees and secure loose items. #Melbourne #melbweather #melbourneweather pic.twitter.com/hJKigpNzOo

— Victorian Storm Chasers (@VicStormChasers) February 22, 2024

In an update early today, the Bureau of Meteorology issued an extreme fire danger warning for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West and Central fire districts.

“Thunderstorms will develop about central and eastern parts of the state during the day and may exacerbate the dangerous fire weather,” the bureau said.

There is a total fire ban in place for Mallee, Wimmera South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central districts.

The fire warnings in place today for Victoria.

The hot weather comes as around 1200 AusNet customers remain without power, which is expected to come back online today.

The increased heat and humidity will also bring an increased risk of thunderstorms over parts of Victoria and New South Wales today, which may be severe in the Hunter and Mid North Coast districts in NSW.

These storms could produce heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hail.

Relief is expected by late afternoon in Victoria when a cooler south-westerly change sweeps in.