Residents in the path of an out-of-control bushfire have been told they are in immediate danger and it’s too late to leave, while those under threat from a second raging blaze are urged to flee while there’s still time.
An emergency warning to take shelter has been issued for Dimboola and Wail in Victoria’s north-west, with a fire at Little Desert National Park not yet under control and heading east.
‘You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,’ the VicEmergency website states.
‘The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.’
A second out-of-control fire is burning at Strachans, Victoria Point and Victoria Valley in Grampians National Park in the state’s west, an area popular with holidaymakers.
As of 7am on Monday, anyone in affected areas was told they still had time to evacuate.
‘Leaving immediately is the safest option before conditions become too dangerous,’ the emergency authority said.
‘Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay’.
Dimboola residents have been told to take shelter
These pictures just show how serious the situation is in Dimboola
Those in the path of fires have been told to take medications and pets, while people travelling in the area are urged to turn on their headlights to help navigate through smoke.
The blaze flared over the Australia Day long weekend as temperatures reached the high 40s, followed by a cool change and gusty winds.
A watch and act warning has been issued for Cooack, Duchembegarra, Gerang Gerung, Goroke, Grass Flat, Kiata, Kinimakatka, Lawloit, Little Desert, Nurcoung, Peronne, Pimpinio, Winiam and Winiam East.
Several roads are closed due to the blaze including the Western Highway between Dimboola and Horsham and Dimboola and Nhill and the Borung Highway between Dimboola and Cannum.
A relief centre has been set up at the Horsham Senior Citizens Centre, with local MP Emma Kealey saying the community had stepped up to help its own.
‘Most people have got accommodation from friends and family. There’s a lot of support going around,’ she told 7News.
An aerial view of the fire at the Little Desert National Park
Residents in the path of the Dimboola blaze have been told it’s now too late to leave
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said ‘lightning strikes’ had ‘ignited a number of fires’ as temperatures soared on Monday.
‘Two fires are of particular interest, one is the Little Desert fire which has reached 63,000 hectares and has moved 40km in an afternoon, growing to 50,000 ha in size.
‘That fire grew in sufficient size due to unstable air mass and actually created its own thunderstorm, then we saw even more lightning strikes,’ he said.
