Residents in Victoria’s south-west have been told it is too late to leave and seek shelter immediately as an out-of-control bushfire rages towards a town.
The Carlisle River fire is now one kilometre from the community of Gellibrand and is travelling in an easterly direction.
Authorities have warned it is now ‘too late to leave the area safely’ and that the fire could ‘impact homes and lives’ at any time.
‘You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,’ an emergency warning by VicEmergency states.
‘If you have not left, the safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.’
State Control Centre spokesperson, Reegan Key, said there was no information available yet about property losses.
‘We have over 50 fire trucks down in that Gellibrand and Carlisle River area,’ Ms Key told ABC Radio.
‘We’re confident in the protection that we have there but that fire’s taken quite a significant run overnight.’
It is believed the blaze grew to about 8000ha on Saturday night.
Victorian Forest Fire Management chief fire officer Chris Hardman said around 1,700 firefighters had been deployed in the state on Sunday morning.
‘These fires can continue to grow and challenge us. This is very early in the season, this is the peak of the fire season now. We have had some terrible fires but it’s not a time to turn our gaze away from the challenges ahead,’ he told ABC’s Weekend Breakfast.
‘It’s really important for the community to understand that if you’re in the north of the state, it’s hot and it’s dry and it’s really challenging conditions.
‘On the coastal fringes in the southern areas where most people live, it’s feeling much milder but don’t be mistaken or lulled into a sense of security — these fires can continue to grow and challenge us.’
It comes as more than a dozen other communities are now under a Watch and Act warning after the fire jumped containment lines on Saturday afternoon.
Residents in Barongarook, Barongarook West, Irrewillipe East, Irrewillipie, Kawarren, Lovat, Wimba and Gerangamete are now advisted to ‘monitor conditions and be ready to act.’
The fire, which started on January 10, has also caused the air quality across the Otways, Geelong, Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island, to deteriorate.
‘Due to weather conditions, smoke may linger over the coming hours,’ a VicEmergency statement read.
‘The smoke may aggravate existing heart and lung conditions and cause irritated eyes, coughing and wheezing.’
CRE: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15495187/Too-late-leave-Urgent-warning-issued-residents-SEVEN-major-bushfires-burn-Victoria-amid-blistering-heatwave.html