An out of control bushfire that started in challenging terrain in the Southern Grampians on Tuesday has fire agencies urging Victorians to be prepared, as it is expected to continue burning for weeks.
The fire started near Yarram Gap Road following a series of lightning strikes across western Victorian and spread north, growing to more than 7000 hectares in size.
Incident Controller (IC) Mark Gunning told a community meeting this week that the Grampians National Park is extremely dry and very little rain has been forecast.
“This is a big fire that’s going to stay in the landscape for at least a few weeks,” IC Gunning said.
“It is in really challenging country, which has allowed the fire to establish on the escarpment.
“Over the last couple of days, it has significantly increased in size.”
Extreme fire danger has been forecast and Total Fire Bans are in place for the Wimmera and Mallee districts today, meaning it could be one of the worst fire behaviour days experienced for some time. People are urged to act now.
Fire crews from Forest Fire Management Victoria and CFA, supported by machinery and aircraft, are working on the fireground and in communities to protect homes and other assets in nearby towns.
“On days like today, the situation can change rapidly and we can’t guarantee a fire truck will be able to get to every home in an emergency,” IC Gunning said.
“A significant part of the state’s aviation firefighting fleet is dedicated to this fire, including two large air tankers bombing continuously.”
As of this morning, the bushfire had reached Serra Road, near Teddy Bear Gap, and will continue to spread north.
While some roads and areas of the Southern Grampians are closed, large sections of the national park with popular tourist sites remain open to visitors.
IC Mark Gunning said those still wanting to come to the Grampians over the holiday period should have the VicEmergency app and a plan in place for what to do in the event of a bushfire.
Victorians are reminded to never rely on one channel for emergency information. Connect to official sources of emergency information, including
- VicEmergency app
- www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Tune in to local emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, commercial and select community radio stations, or SkyNews TV
- Phone the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- Follow VicEmergency on Facebook and Twitter
