Key Takeaways:
- A severe heatwave is affecting Victoria, Australia, with catastrophic fire danger expected on Friday
- Residents in regional areas are being forced to evacuate their homes due to the threat of bushfires
- The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has warned of dire conditions, including potential wind gusts of up to 100km/h and temperatures in the mid to upper 40C range
- Communities are preparing for the worst, with many stocking up on supplies and having evacuation plans in place
- The state MP for Eildon, Cindy McLeish, says the community is anxious and fearful, but vigilant and preparing to leave if necessary
Introduction to the Crisis
The state of Victoria in Australia is facing a severe heatwave, with catastrophic fire danger expected on Friday. The heatwave has already forced many residents in regional areas to evacuate their homes, including 82-year-old Jan Sporry and her husband, who had to pack up and leave their home in regional Victoria, possibly for the last time. The couple, along with their kelpie Ruby, moved to a disaster relief centre in Seymour as firefighters fought blazes in the worst heatwave since the 2019-20 black summer bushfire season.
Community Preparation
In the relief centre set up at the Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre, Sporry was among the community members gathered for a town hall meeting on Thursday night. Several people with caravans were settling in for the night, evacuees from the fire area. Maree, a Seymour local for eight years, said she and her two boys – who both live with disabilities – were ready to evacuate. Their packs with water, radios, and ID were all set. The community is preparing for the worst, with many stocking up on supplies and having evacuation plans in place. At the supermarket in Seymour, there were noticeable gaps on the shelves, with bottles of water and batteries almost gone.
Firefighter Efforts
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has warned of dire conditions, including potential wind gusts of up to 100km/h and temperatures in the mid to upper 40C range. The chief officer of the CFA, Jason Heffernan, warned that conditions on Friday would be "dire" and that fires had the potential to spread rapidly. The fires burning at Longwood were threatening to spread further on Thursday, with residents of some nearby towns advised it was too late to leave and to shelter indoors. Firefighters, including members of the Kelvin View fire brigade, have been working tirelessly to contain the blazes, with some having been on the ground since 7am.
Community Anxiety
The state MP for Eildon, Cindy McLeish, says the community is anxious and fearful, but vigilant and preparing to leave if necessary. McLeish was sure some would "be stubborn" and stay to defend their homes, adding her "dad would have been one of them", but that most of the community was watching and preparing to leave. The shadow of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, and the renewed threat in the 2019-20 bushfire season, hangs in the air, and many residents are preparing for the worst. June, a local resident, said "everyone is worried" and that "anything could happen". The community is on high alert, with many having their bags packed and ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
Preparing for the Worst
As the situation continues to unfold, residents are preparing for the worst. June and her kids, aged 14 and 10, were loading litres and litres of water into the back of her small car, preparing for a potential evacuation. The staff at the supermarket were restocking shelves, while residents were filling trolleys with supplies. One man’s trolley was piled with two-minute noodles – packets upon packets. The community is coming together to support each other, with many offering help and assistance to those in need. As June said, "now, we just pray for rain", and while a light shower fell over Seymour on Thursday night, it was not nearly enough to ward off the risk. The community remains vigilant, preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.