December 26th 2024.
Residents living in certain areas of Victoria are being urged to evacuate immediately due to a raging bushfire that is currently out of control in the Grampians National Park. The fire has already burned through a large portion of the park, covering about 75,000 hectares and is being battled by 600 firefighters. While some towns have been downgraded to a watch and act level, others are still under emergency warnings as the catastrophic fire conditions ease.
The danger is still present, however, and multiple communities have been advised to take shelter as the fire approaches. Emergency warnings are still in place for several towns, including Barton, Jallukar, Jimmy Creek, Kia Ora, Londonderry, Mafeking, Moyston, Watgania, and Willaura North. The warning states that residents are in immediate danger and should seek shelter indoors as soon as possible. The fire is currently moving eastward and has already impacted a communications tower at Mt William, which could potentially affect internet and mobile services in the area.
In addition to these areas, there are also watch and act warnings for Bellellen, Black Range, and Pomonal. Residents in these towns have been advised to leave immediately for their own safety. Five other watch and act warnings have also been issued, with some being downgraded overnight. A full list of all warnings can be found on the official website.
For those who have been forced to evacuate from their homes, there are currently three relief centers open in Ararat, Stawell, and Hamilton. These centers are providing aid and support for those affected by the fires. Emergency Management Commissioner and Deputy Premier have stated that the fire is expected to burn for weeks, and while there have been no confirmed reports of residential homes being destroyed, they warned that it is a possibility.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll also announced that government disaster assistance is available for residents living in the four local government areas of Ararat, the southern Grampians, the northern Grampians, and the Macedon shire. He assured that all communities will be supported during this challenging time.
Yesterday, Victoria experienced one of the worst fire days in years, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees in some areas of the state. The extreme heat was accompanied by strong and damaging winds, with gusts of up to 100km/h recorded. A total fire ban was in place for the entire state. However, conditions have improved today, with temperatures reaching a high of 22 degrees in Melbourne. Meteorologist Jonathan Howe explained that the cool change brought relief from the heat, with wind gusts of up to 144km/h recorded in Gellibrand and 95km/h in west Victoria, including the fire ground in the Grampians. The heat is expected to continue for the next few days, with a high fire danger still declared for much of the state.
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