Key Takeaways:
- A bushfire in Victoria’s south-west has grown overnight and is threatening properties in the Otways, with an emergency warning in place for Carlisle River and Gellibrand.
- The fire has broken containment lines and is spreading in an easterly direction, with over 50 fire trucks and crews working to protect houses in the area.
- The conditions in the Otways are challenging, with extremely hot weather and stiffening winds, and the fire is expected to continue to move today.
- More than a dozen communities are under a Watch and Act warning, and a total fire ban has been issued for several districts in the state.
- The air quality across southern Victoria has deteriorated due to the fire, with thick smoke hanging over the Otways, Geelong, Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, and Phillip Island.
Introduction to the Bushfire
The bushfire burning out of control in Victoria’s south-west has grown overnight and is threatening properties in the Otways. The Carlisle River fire is now one kilometer from the community of Gellibrand, spreading in an easterly direction, with an emergency warning stating it could impact homes at any time. State Control Centre spokesperson Reegan Key said crews spent the night protecting houses, with over 50 fire trucks in the area. The fire broke containment lines as gusty winds swept through the area, and there is no information yet about any property losses.
Challenging Conditions
Victorian Forest Fire Management chief fire officer Chris Hardman said the conditions in the Otways yesterday were challenging, with extremely hot weather and stiffening winds. The fire is right on the edge of Gellibrand and will continue to move today, with conditions expected to ease today but extreme heat returning on Tuesday. An Emergency Warning for Carlisle River and Gellibrand says it’s now too late to leave, and anyone in the area needs to immediately take shelter. More than a dozen other communities are under a Watch and Act warning, and crews from surrounding CFA units have been called in to help fight the fire.
Community Response
Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram said a lot of people had left their homes and were sheltering at an emergency relief centre in Colac, or with family or friends. Those in the areas of the emergency take shelter warning should heed those warnings, as the situation is still serious. Christine and Bjorn Holm, who have lived in Gellibrand for over 40 years, evacuated to a relief centre in Colac and expressed concern about the welfare of the Otways koala population. Rob Murphy, who moved to the area two years ago, is staying to help the publican feed firefighters and check the property for burning embers but would leave if it became too risky.
Air Quality Concerns
The fire has caused the air quality across southern parts of the state to deteriorate, with thick smoke hanging over the Otways, Geelong, Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, and Phillip Island. People in those areas are warned that the smoke may irritate their eyes and aggravate existing heart and lung conditions, causing coughing and wheezing. They are being urged to limit time spent outdoors in the smoky conditions, and people over the age of 65, children under 14, and pregnant women are also being told to reduce heavy physical activity.
Ongoing Fire Season
The Carlisle River fire is one of more than half a dozen major blazes burning across Victoria, with Watch and Act Warnings still in place for communities surrounding the Walwa and Wonnangatta Valley fires. Victorian Forest Fire Management chief fire officer Chris Hardman said Victorians still faced a long bushfire season, with hot and dry conditions in the north of the state and challenging conditions on the coastal fringes in the southern areas. A total fire ban has been issued for several districts in the state, and the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast what could be the longest duration heatwave the state has seen since 2009.
Heatwave and Fire Risks
The heat will persist in the northern parts of the state, with temperatures in many areas expected to approach mid-40 degrees Celsius. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast what could be the longest duration heatwave the state has seen since 2009. Ambulance Victoria revealed paramedics responded to 11 cases of children locked in cars as the heat rose across the state yesterday, and encouraged parents and carers to make sure keys are kept with them and to be alert while loading family members in and out of vehicles. For more information on the latest fire warnings for Victoria, visit the VicEmergency website.