Homes have been reported lost as reinforcements start arriving to bolster firefighters battling a large bushfire in western Victoria.
Thousands of residents from more than 30 communities near Ballarat have been told to “leave now,” with emergency warnings and a watch-and-act alert issued.
About 1000 firefighters have been battling the blaze including those operating water bombing aircraft.
Firefighters hoped conditions would abate overnight but they did not, with the blaze moving northeasterly towards Avoca on Friday morning.
The fire had burned through more than 11,000 hectares and spotfires from embers were starting ahead of its main front, a State Control Centre spokeswoman said.
More than 25,000 homes were sent emergency alerts through voice or text messages on Thursday, and around 5500 more went out on Friday morning.
Advice messages for Avoca, Glenbrae and surrounds were in place on Friday but the spokeswoman said leaving immediately was the safest option for locals.
“If people are located within these (warning) areas we’re asking them to leave now to protect their life,” she said.
“We are hearing of property losses but we’ll know more later in the day.”
Livestock were also expected to be lost in the blaze.
Victorian Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said he expected conditions to remain volatile on Friday.
“We are throwing everything we can at it to try and contain the fire in the lead-up to next Wednesday’s predicted high fire weather day,” he told ABC TV early on Friday.
The very large bushfire forced the closure of the Great Western Highway between the major towns of Ballarat and Ararat, in addition to a train line and bus routes in the area.
The aim on Friday was to get the Great Western Highway opened but the Pyrenees highway was set to be closed due to the fire, Mr Heffernan said.
Skipton Road between Skipton and Beaufort was also closed as of Friday morning, as was Beaufort-Lexton Road.
Relief centres were set up at Ararat, Maryborough and Wendouree.
Prisoners with health conditions that make them vulnerable to smoke have been taken away from Langi Kal Kal Prison, which is near the fire.
Firefighters have also been battling bushfires in parts of Tasmania, with a watch and act warning issued for the Dee community and surrounds over a fire in the remote central highlands, with residents told to prepare to leave.
A high fire danger alert has been issued for parts of central and south western NSW, in addition to the Greater Hunter region.
Hot conditions on Friday are likely to be focused on Northern and Eastern NSW, according to Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Dean Narramore.
He said the mercury was set to reach mid to high 30s in Sydney before widespread thunderstorm activity and a cool change in the evening.
A heatwave warning is current for Western Australia’s Pilbara, North Interior and South Interior Districts and Gascoyne regions.
In WA a bushfire watch and act alert is in place for people travelling along the Eyre Highway near the Balladonia Roadhouse in parts of Balladonia and the Fraser Range in the Shire of Dundas.
Meanwhile, two bushfires that flared in Tasmania’s remote highlands on a day of severe heat may have been deliberately lit.
Emergency crews were battling a blaze at Brady’s Lake in the Central Highlands in cooler weather on Friday after fires in the area sparked an emergency evacuation order a day earlier.
Temperatures peaked in the mid-30s in Tasmania on Thursday, prompting a fire ban across the state’s south.
The Brady’s Lake fire, near the community of Dee, as well as one at Snake Tier have been referred to police for criminal investigation.
The cause of three other nearby fires is being probed by the Tasmania Fire Service.
“This is being taken extremely seriously and we’re urging anyone with information to come forward,” Tasmania Police commander Jason Elmer said.
A dozen aircraft and 27 ground crews were fighting the Brady’s Lake fire on Thursday.
Fire service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said although temperatures had dropped, high fire danger ratings remained in place across much of the state.
Authorities are assessing whether any properties have been damaged.
An evacuation centre was opened in New Norfolk on Thursday night, with about 80 people also leaving Ouse and heading to Gretna.
A watch and act alert remained in place for the Central Highlands fires, with residents told to prepare to leave if conditions worsen.
Source: AAP
