Residents across parts of south-west Victoria have been ordered to take shelter as an out-of-control bushfire reached emergency level on Friday(January 23), with authorities warning it was “too late to leave” and that the blaze posed an immediate threat to homes and lives.
Australia is on the rise as intensifying heat spreads across the country, baking the landscape and steadily lifting the risk of fire. With conditions growing hotter and drier by the day, the mounting heatwave is pushing fire danger higher, turning vast stretches of land increasingly volatile.
The blaze, known as the Carlisle River in Gellibrand fire, is advancing south from the intersection of Carlisle River Road and Walls-Skinner Track.
Residents have been told to take shelter while firefighters attempt to bring the fire under control.
The emergency warning covers Beech Forest, Carlisle River, Charleys Creek, Dinmont, Ferguson, Gellibrand, Irrewillipe, Pile Siding, Weeaproinah, Wimba, and Wyelangta. “This fire is threatening homes and lives,” Vic Emergency said, warning residents it was too late to leave safely and urging them to take shelter immediately.
"A wind change is expected around 5 pm. This will cause the fire to change directions towards Barongarook. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave. "
A total fire ban is in effect today across East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland, North East, Central, North Central, Northern Country, South West, Wimmera and Mallee. The warning comes as Victoria endures the first day of what forecasters say is expected to be a five- or six-day heatwave.
Australia is on the rise as intensifying heat spreads across the country, baking the landscape and steadily lifting the risk of fire. With conditions growing hotter and drier by the day, the mounting heatwave is pushing fire danger higher, turning vast stretches of land increasingly volatile.
The blaze, known as the Carlisle River in Gellibrand fire, is advancing south from the intersection of Carlisle River Road and Walls-Skinner Track.
Residents have been told to take shelter while firefighters attempt to bring the fire under control.
The emergency warning covers Beech Forest, Carlisle River, Charleys Creek, Dinmont, Ferguson, Gellibrand, Irrewillipe, Pile Siding, Weeaproinah, Wimba, and Wyelangta. “This fire is threatening homes and lives,” Vic Emergency said, warning residents it was too late to leave safely and urging them to take shelter immediately.
"A wind change is expected around 5 pm. This will cause the fire to change directions towards Barongarook. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave. "
A total fire ban is in effect today across East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland, North East, Central, North Central, Northern Country, South West, Wimmera and Mallee. The warning comes as Victoria endures the first day of what forecasters say is expected to be a five- or six-day heatwave.
