Man critically injured on work site
An out-of-control bushfire that injured five firefighters has destroyed several homes in Victoria’s south-west overnight.
An emergency warning has been issued to communities near the Grampians National Park, with some residents told it is “too late to leave”.
It comes after a catastrophic fire warning was issued for communities in the west as temperatures neared 40 degrees yesterday.
Residents in towns south of Halls Gap have been told to leave immediately with
Emergency warnings
A bushfire burning in the Grampians National Park has reached emergency level.
People living in Bellfield and Pomonal have been told to shelter indoors.
“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,” the warning said.
“It is too late to leave.”
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan told Today he believed the warning would be downgraded in the coming hours due to conditions easing.
Emergency warnings can be followed via the Vic Emergency website and app.
This Emergency Warning – Bushfire – Take Shelter Now is being issued for Bellfield, Pomonal.
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.
More details at https://t.co/rR1nvOkZtu pic.twitter.com/WngW7Clvsm
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) February 13, 2024
Residents living in Dadswells Bridge, Glenorchy, St Helens Plains, Wal Wal have been warned to “leave now” due to a bushfire burning at Mt Stapylton.
The fire is not yet under control, and is now threatening a private property north of Dadswells Bridge.
It’s travelling in a north-easterly direction.
“Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay,” the warning said.
The fire is travelling towards the Pomonal township.
An out-of-control fire continues to burn at Pomonal.
Property lost, firefighters injured
Properties have been impacted by the fast-moving fire in the Pomonal area, with Lowan MP Emma Kealy saying early reports indicate dozens of homes have been lost.
“Devastating losses to fire in the Pomonal area, with reports from the fireground indicating 25-30 houses been lost,” she said.
“Thankfully there are no reports of lives lost at this stage.
“A massive thank you to our amazing CFA volunteers for their incredible work today in horrific conditions. Our losses would have been far worse without their courage, hard work and commitment to our communities.”
About 100 people evacuated to the Stawell Emergency Centre last night, and a further 20 at the Ararat Emergency Relief Centre, Kealy added.
One local has told 9News the historical Pomonal church had also been lost in the blaze.
I've just left a briefing at the State Control Centre.
The situation is still evolving, but at this stage we believe a number of homes may have been lost to fire. pic.twitter.com/nYYuvPu7m2
— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) February 13, 2024
Premier Jacinta Allan also confirmed a number of homes had been destroyed.
Five firefighters have also been injured after they were inside a vehicle “involved in a burnover while on the fireground” at Pomonal.
All five were assessed by paramedics, the CFA said.
“CFA members train for this situation and thankfully they all put that into action yesterday,” Heffernan told Today.
“It was a close call for those firefighters but it just goes to show how furious those flames were.”
It comes as almost 300,000 homes and businesses remain without power after ferocious storms caused major electrical transmission lines and power generators to fail.
Golf-ball-sized hail, flash flooding and severe winds ripped through large parts of regional Victoria and Melbourne yesterday afternoon, knocking down hundreds of powerlines and poles.
Cooler conditions are expected to help firefighters today, with Melbourne forecast to reach a top of 20 degrees.
The Wimmera remains under a high-fire warning, while the rest of the state has a moderate rating.
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