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Evacuations in Victoria under way amid extreme fire threat, soaring temperatures and high winds Evacuations in Victoria under way amid extreme fire threat, soaring temperatures and high winds
(about 1 hour later)
Dangerous fire conditions set to sweep across south-east as Victoria, NSW and SA prepare for Boxing Day scorcherDangerous fire conditions set to sweep across south-east as Victoria, NSW and SA prepare for Boxing Day scorcher
Authorities are evacuating people from areas in central and western Victoria as dangerous fire conditions grip several states across the south-east.Authorities are evacuating people from areas in central and western Victoria as dangerous fire conditions grip several states across the south-east.
Damaging winds will fan extreme fire danger on Thursday as hot and dry weather envelops large parts of Victoria, south-west New South Wales and much of eastern South Australia.Damaging winds will fan extreme fire danger on Thursday as hot and dry weather envelops large parts of Victoria, south-west New South Wales and much of eastern South Australia.
At 9am AEDT, there were fires burning in Victoria, including Grampians National Park, Bullengarook, Creswick and at the Gurdies. Authorities expecting those fires to grow on Thursday. At 9am AEDT, there were fires burning in Victoria, including Grampians national park, Bullengarook, Creswick and at the Gurdies. Authorities expecting those fires to grow on Thursday.
Victoria State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Hegarty urged residents on those areas to leave the area by 10am, to protect themselves and their families. Victoria State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Hegarty urged residents on those areas to leave the area by 10am to protect themselves and their families.
“You need to leave those areas. Move to somewhere else, somewhere safe. That is the way to protect yourself and your family.”“You need to leave those areas. Move to somewhere else, somewhere safe. That is the way to protect yourself and your family.”
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He said all residents in Victoria should be checking their fire plan, and to be prepared if a fire starts nearby.He said all residents in Victoria should be checking their fire plan, and to be prepared if a fire starts nearby.
“Know what you’re going to do if a fire starts. And if you’re planning on traveling today, reconsider your need to travel. This is not a day to be outside. This is not a day to be undertaking any sort of travel unless absolutely necessary.”“Know what you’re going to do if a fire starts. And if you’re planning on traveling today, reconsider your need to travel. This is not a day to be outside. This is not a day to be undertaking any sort of travel unless absolutely necessary.”
Victoria is preparing to face the most dangerous fire conditions since the 2019–20 black summer. Gusty winds are expected for much of the day, as well as on Friday and Saturday, exacerbating the fire dangers across the state. Victoria is preparing to face the most dangerous fire conditions since the 2019–20 Black Summer. Gusty winds are expected for much of the day, as well as on Friday and Saturday, exacerbating fire dangers across the state.
The mercury is set to reach the high 30s to 40s for much of Victoria and inland Australia, with the central western Queensland town of Birdsville forecast for a 47C belter. The mercury is set to reach the high 30s to 40s for much of Victoria and inland Australia, with the central western Queensland town of Birdsville forecast to hit 47C.
Gusts of up to 100km/h are strong enough to bring down trees and power lines, and cause minor power outages, the Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore said. Gusts of up to 100km/h are strong enough to bring down trees and power lines and cause minor power outages, the Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore said.
A high-pressure trough which brought temperatures in the high 30s to South Australia on Christmas Day is slowly trekking across the border to Victoria.A high-pressure trough which brought temperatures in the high 30s to South Australia on Christmas Day is slowly trekking across the border to Victoria.
All but one region of Victoria are set to face extreme fire risk on Thursday.All but one region of Victoria are set to face extreme fire risk on Thursday.
Total fire bans have also been declared for South Australia’s Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East regions.Total fire bans have also been declared for South Australia’s Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East regions.
The dangerous conditions could further fuel an out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s Grampians national park which has been burning for days, covering more than 40,000 hectares.The dangerous conditions could further fuel an out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s Grampians national park which has been burning for days, covering more than 40,000 hectares.
Residents in the Grampians towns of Bornes Hill, Moyston and Pomonal were also ordered to leave on Wednesday as the blaze raced towards them.Residents in the Grampians towns of Bornes Hill, Moyston and Pomonal were also ordered to leave on Wednesday as the blaze raced towards them.
Narramore said the combination of strong winds, high temperatures and dry air made for dangerous fire activity.Narramore said the combination of strong winds, high temperatures and dry air made for dangerous fire activity.
“Any fire that does get going or already is ongoing around the Grampians will likely be uncontrollable and uncontainable, leading to dangerous and erratic fire behaviour,” he said.“Any fire that does get going or already is ongoing around the Grampians will likely be uncontrollable and uncontainable, leading to dangerous and erratic fire behaviour,” he said.
Firefighters from multiple states have deployed to help their Victorian counterparts as crews work to secure containment lines on Boxing Day which is expected to bring the worst conditions since the 2019 Black Summer. Firefighters from multiple states have deployed to help their Victorian counterparts as crews work to secure containment lines on Boxing Day.
Power provider AusNet warned customers that power cuts could be triggered to prevent bushfires from starting and outages could last longer to ensure safety.Power provider AusNet warned customers that power cuts could be triggered to prevent bushfires from starting and outages could last longer to ensure safety.
As a cool change washes over Victoria on Thursday night, hot, dry and windy conditions will push into parts of central north-eastern NSW, bringing extreme fire danger on Friday.As a cool change washes over Victoria on Thursday night, hot, dry and windy conditions will push into parts of central north-eastern NSW, bringing extreme fire danger on Friday.
The bureau was forecasting hot to very hot temperatures throughout South Australia, with possible thunderstorms ahead of a cool change.The bureau was forecasting hot to very hot temperatures throughout South Australia, with possible thunderstorms ahead of a cool change.
In SA, a grass and stubble fire at Para Hills, a northern suburb of Adelaide, that started on Christmas afternoon, was yet to be contained.In SA, a grass and stubble fire at Para Hills, a northern suburb of Adelaide, that started on Christmas afternoon, was yet to be contained.