An out-of-control bushfire continues to threaten communities in western Victoria after the inferno tripled in size in just 24 hours.
The fire in Victoria’s Grampians National Park has destroyed 34,000 hectares and continues to grow despite more than 300 firefighters battling to control the blaze ahead of the extreme heat and windy conditions forecast for Thursday.
Emergency warnings are in place for people in the tourist hotspot Halls Gap and surrounding areas to leave immediately.
Authorities say it could take weeks for the fire sparked by a lightning strike earlier this week to be fully contained and that several communities are still under emergency evacuation warnings.
A massive 34,000 hectare bushfire in western Victoria has 300 firefighters working around the clock after its size tripled in just 24 hours. Video from Vic Emergency
The fire, which started almost a week ago, tripled in size between Friday and Saturday due to high temperatures and strong winds.
Similar conditions on Saturday evening resulted in the inferno moving to Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield.
Incident controller Aaron Kennedy said the fire was in very steep, difficult and dry terrain.
“Our ability to directly combat this fire is quite challenging,” he said.
Firefighters try to control a massive forest fire before dangerous conditions arise. Image by HANDOUT/GISBORNE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Mr Kennedy said the fire risk was expected to increase on Thursday when a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius and windy conditions were forecast for the area.
“This means we may see significant fire behavior again, and subsequently an increase in fire growth across the landscape,” he said.
“Our crews are working very hard to try and contain this fire ahead of the Boxing Day weather event.”
Mr Kennedy said two years of dry conditions in western Victoria, especially in the Grampians National Park, caused the fires to spread quickly.
The emergency evacuation warning remained in place due to the fire in the Grampians. Residents in several towns, including Bellfield, Halls Gap and Fyans Creek, were told to leave immediately.
The threat to the nearby communities of Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Mafeking and Watgania eased late on Saturday as emergency alerts were lowered to watch and act, but it was not safe to return.
Authorities say it could take weeks before bushfires in the Grampians National Park are fully under control. Image by HANDOUT/VIC EMERGENCY
A fire at Bullengarook, northwest of Melbourne, was also downgraded to a watch and action.
The same alert level remains in place for Bornes Hill, Grampians, Jimmy Creek, Mirranatwa, Victoria Valley, Barton, Jallukur and Londonderry.
Reception centers have opened in Ararat and Stawell. The Grampians National Park is closed to visitors.
A bushfire at The Gurdies in South Gippsland was also downgraded to an advisory warning.
It’s been a worrying start to Australia’s bushfire season. Image by HANDOUT/NORTH HAMILTON BRIGADE
Fires in NSW and Western Australia have also seen multiple bushfires in the early weeks of summer.
Temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s are expected to reach WA, including the state’s forested southwest, this weekend before moving east.
An increased fire danger is forecast for southern and mid-west WA, with dry thunderstorms possible for western parts.
Heatwave conditions are forecast for the state’s mid-west and the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
Moderate and extreme fire conditions are forecast for parts of inland NSW, including the greater Sydney area, over the coming days.