December 23rd 2024.
Residents and business owners of Halls Gap, a small village in the Grampians National Park in Victoria's west, have been given the opportunity to briefly return to their homes today. This is after they were forced to flee from out-of-control bushfires that have been raging in the area.
Authorities are preparing for extreme fire danger in the region, as well as across the state of Victoria, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-40s on Boxing Day. The fire in Grampians National Park has already spread to over 40,000 hectares, and a team of 100 personnel from other states has been deployed to assist with the response efforts.
To stay informed and updated on the situation, residents are advised to visit the VicEmergency website or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has also issued a warning about the upcoming day, stating that it will be "problematic" and that Victorians need to be prepared for potential new fires.
"The advice is very clear, this is just the beginning of what will be a long and dangerous bushfire season," Carroll stated. "The fire that we don't know about is the one we're most concerned about. Boxing Day is going to be a big day for our state, as we've already seen fires burning across Victoria and we're heading into even more extreme conditions."
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is currently considering imposing a statewide Total Fire Ban on Boxing Day and is expected to confirm their decision today. With temperatures expected to be in the low- to mid-40s and hot winds blowing, CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan has cautioned that the dry and ready-to-burn fuel in the bush will make it a very challenging day.
In light of this, authorities are urging all Victorians to have the VicEmergency app downloaded on their phones to stay updated on fire danger in the coming days. In extreme weather conditions, it is not uncommon to experience power outages and loss of internet connectivity, so Heffernan also encouraged people to have multiple sources of fire danger information available and to be aware of their location, fire risk, and have a plan in case of an emergency.
One of the major concerns for authorities is the ongoing Grampians Fire, which has caused residents of Halls Gap to evacuate their homes. However, they will now be allowed to return between 10am and 12pm today to collect personal belongings and ensure their properties are secure. Access to Halls Gap will be through the Traffic Management Point at the intersection of Grampians Road and Ararat Halls Gap Road. Police will be checking for proof of residence, such as a driver's license.
A community meeting will also be held at Moyston Hall at 11am local time, and it will be livestreamed on the Ararat Rural City Council Facebook page and shared on the VicEmergency Facebook page. However, areas that have been deemed unsafe include Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, and Halls Gap.
The Watch and Act warning for Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Barton, Mafeking, Watgania, Bellellen, Black Range, Great Western, Jallukar, Lake Fyans, Londonderry, Moyston, Rhymney, and Willaura North is still in effect. The situation is constantly changing, and even though the favorable weather conditions and light rain yesterday slowed the spread of the fire, it is still important for residents to stay informed.
The Grampians National Park, located about 200 kilometers north-west of Melbourne, remains closed to the public. Relief centers have been set up at Alexandra Oval Community Centre in Ararat and Grampians Community Health (also known as "The Shacc") in Stawell.
Residents in surrounding areas, such as Fyans Creek, Lake Lonsdale, Ledcourt, Mokepilly, Mount Dryden, Wartook, Zumsteins, Bornes Hill, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Jimmy Creek, Karabeal, Mirranatwa, Strathmore, Victoria Point, Victoria Valley, and Kia Ora, have been urged to stay informed.
Another fire that residents should be aware of is the one in the town of Bullengarook, 14 kilometers west of Gisborne. It started near Coffeys Road and is burning in the Wombat State Forest. Crews have been able to contain it, but with extreme conditions expected on Boxing Day, residents are advised to be prepared to evacuate early if necessary. Roads in the area, including Coffeys Road, Carrolls Lane, and Waterloo Flat Road, have been closed.
Other fires that have the potential to grow on Boxing Day include blazes at Boollarra South, The Gurdies, Crewwick, and Casterton-Edenhope Road. In Melbourne, the temperature is forecasted to reach 40 degrees, while Halls Gap is expecting 39, Mildura 43, and Horsham 42. It is estimated that the region is currently losing about $2 million every day due to the ongoing crisis.
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