Heavy rain in Melbourne has done little to quell major bushfires in Victoria’s west as firefighters prepare for sweltering festive season conditions.
Millions of residents and travellers across the country are being warned to stay alert as the risk of Christmas week infernos intensifies.
Several states entered Monday battling dangerous blazes or warning of potential outbreaks, including NSW where hot, dry and windy conditions pose an extreme fire danger in the Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Northern Slopes and North Western regions.
More than 41,000 hectares have been torched in the Grampians, 270km west of Melbourne, and a cool change and rain in the city hasn’t improved conditions near the blaze.
On Monday, temperatures in the Victorian capital will peak at a cool 18C on Monday, with further showers expected.
Watch and act alerts remain in place for fires in Grampians National Park and some residents have been told to prepare to leave if the situation worsens.
Meanwhile, another blaze in Bullengarook, northwest of Melbourne, continues to burn out of control.
Victorian authorities are eying sweltering conditions of around 40C expected in the region on Boxing Day, amid fears private property could be impacted.
Interstate fire crews from NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia will arrive later in the week, the state’s Country Fire Authority has confirmed.
With Boxing Day usually a big travel day across the state, the fire authority is urging residents to download the VicEmergency app before they leave.
Halls Gap Hotel, in the Grampians’ biggest tourist town, has shut its doors and tourism providers in the area say they face losing $1.9 million a day in bookings because of the emergency as residents fled to Ararat.
“With 39-degree days on Xmas and Boxing Day, we’ve cancelled our family Xmas here this year,” Moyston resident Maxine Windram said on social media.
Elsewhere, regional areas in South Australia are also expecting hot conditions on Boxing Day, with Adelaide facing a peak of 36C after a predicted 37C on Christmas Day.
In WA, firefighters were mopping up a blaze on Sunday that had threatened life and property on Perth’s northern outskirts.
The fast-moving fire at Two Rocks forced evacuation warnings on Sunday afternoon but was later brought under control.
High fire danger is again forecast for the region on Monday while extreme risk is predicted in inland parts of WA’s midwest and southwest.
Source: AAP
