Hundreds of country Victorian residents have been told to evacuate today as a huge bushfire threatens communities in the state’s west.
The fire zone spread to about 10,000 hectares in size overnight and early today the Country Fire Authority issued an emergency alert for more communities to evacuate.
They are Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Eversley, Glenlofty, Glenlogie, Glenpatrick, Glenshee, Green Hill Creek, Landsborough, Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, Nowhere Creek, Percydale and Warrenmang.
“Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the CFA said in its latest update.
“Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”
Country Fire Authority chief Officer Jason Heffernan told Today this morning he expected property to be lost to the blaze over coming hours.
“Unfortunately, we are already starting to receive early intelligence of some property loss from the crews that are around the fireground last night and … I will not be surprised whether we see a number of homes, but also significant numbers of sheds, outbuildings, stock losses and fence losses for our farming community,” he said.
While temperatures were expected to be much cooler today, the strong south-westerly winds were expected to drive the fire in a northerly direction towards the town of Avoca.
“I do expect today’s conditions to be milder than yesterday,” Heffernan said.
“But the condition is still volatile for communities in and around the Bayindeen fire, and particularly for the communities around Elmhurst this morning.”
More than 1000 firefighters and 24 fire-fighting aircraft have been deployed.
Heffernan urged affected residents to carefully monitor conditions and emergency warnings.
“My message to anyone who lives West of Ballarat today is have the Vic emergency app with you all day.
“Make sure you’ve got it on your mobile phone constantly.”
