An out of control bushfire has prompted an emergency warning for residents to flee their homes before it’s too late.
Bushfire alerts were issued for towns between Ballarat and Ararat in central Victoria on Thursday night.
The most serious is for 30 communities surrounding Beaufort as an out of control fire travels south-east from Bayindeen-Rocky Road.
Residents have been ordered to leave the area ‘before conditions become too dangerous’.
More than 1,000 firefighters and 24 water-bombing aircraft are battling the 5,000-hectare blaze.
It’s burning 60km away from Pomonal and Dadswell Bridge where 44 homes were destroyed by a separate bushfire last week.
Residents of 30 communities west of Ballarat, rural Victoria, have been urged to evacuate the area as a 5,000-hectare bushfire burns out-of-control (pictured)
The state emergency service warned those in 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 and Waterloo to evacuate.
Residents in those communities were warned that ’emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay’.
Those leaving have been urged to travel towards Ballarat or to the homes of family or friends outside of the warning area for protection.
Medication, pets, a mobile phone and accompanying charger should be prioritised by those evacuating the area while anyone driving has been told to slow down and use their headlights while travelling through smoke.
‘Relief Centres are located at the CE Brown Reserve, 236-296 Dowling Street Wendouree (Lake Wendouree Football Ground) and Alexander Oval, Waratah Avenue Ararat,’ the warning from Vic Emergency reads.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the bushfire is expected to get worse over night as it starts to threaten homes and lives.
‘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,’ Ms Allan told reporters.
‘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.’
Massive plumes of smoke could be seen towering over the rolling hillsides as it travels southeast and threatens the homes and lives of those in the communities (pictured)
More than 1,000 firefighters are being assisted by 24 water-bombing aircraft to help bring the fire (pictured) under control, but it is expected to get worse overnight
CFA chief fire officer, Jason Heffernan, said the out-of-control fire was started by hot conditions and strong winds which will worsen 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.’
Large plumes of smoke could be seen ominously towering over the rolling hillsides and polluted the air in many of the local areas.
Meanwhile, residents just east of the blaze in Addington, Brewster, Burrumbeet, Ercildoune, Glenbrae, Lexton, Trawalla, Waubra and Weatherboard also received warnings to ‘leave now’.
Central to Western Victoria were all placed under an ‘extreme’ fire warning and total fire bans in place on Thursday.
It comes just a week after 44 homes were tragically destroyed in Pomonal and Dadswell Bridge, about 60km west of the blaze, by bushfires last week (pictured, burnt Kangaroo)
Another 37 homes were declared ‘uninhabitable’ as many locals returned to find they were left with the items they fled with (pictured, firefighters at the scene)
More fires may develop as thunderstorms are expected to pass over some areas with extreme fire warnings in south-west Victoria and parts of NSW..
While the low pressure system may grant some respite from the fires thanks to heavy rainfall, unaffected areas have been told to also prepare for large hail and damaging winds.
‘It’s wild out there so avoid parking near trees and secure loose items,’ Victorian Storm Chasers wrote on X.
It comes after more than 44 homes were destroyed and 37 deemed ‘uninhabitable’ after a large bushfire tore through Pomonal and Dadswell Bridge last week.
