An out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes in the Grampians National Park with emergency services advising it has reached the Pomonal township.
People living in Pomonal, Lake Fyans and Bellfield been told it is too late to evacuate as the bushfire threatens homes on the worst day for fire conditions since the Black Summer bushfires.
Areas east of Pomonal are also at risk, emergency services warned at about 5.30pm.
Residents of the area east of Mt William Creek, including the area east of Pomonal township, Mokepilly, Bellellen and Jallukar, have been advised to evacuate.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan told 3AW radio that conditions in Pomonal were “quite horrendous” in an interview just before 6pm.
Heffernan said firefighters were in “active property protection” mode as the fire front reached the town and threatened properties and that CFA crews and fire agencies were working hard to look after community members.
He said it was quite a serious situation for the community and that about 100 people were taking shelter at the local oval.
A second bushfire burning near Mt Stapylton, travelling in a south-easterly direction, is also burning out of control.
Heffernan said both Grampian blazes remained out of control and that there were still strong winds and high temperatures in the region.
Bushfires threaten homes in the Grampians
Emergency services have warned that an expected south-westerly change will cause the fire near Mt Stapylton to change direction towards Dadswells Bridge and Ledcourt.
Residents in those townships have been advised to leave and head towards Stawell, where a relief centre has been established at the Grampians Community Health Centre. An emergency relief centre has also been set up on Alexandra Oval in Ararat.
“The bushfire is now impacting areas of Dadswells Bridge and is travelling in an easterly direction and has crossed the Western Highway,” an Emergency Victoria spokesperson said in an update just before 5pm.
“Fire conditions are now dangerous and unpredictable. This fire is threatening homes and lives. It is too late to leave the area safely, so you must take shelter now.”
Thunderstorms cause major power outages
The thunderstorm that hit parts of Melbourne brought hail as it travelled south-east towards the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Residents in Highett, Altona North and Hampton were among those who reported hail as big as golf balls shortly after 2pm.
As the storm battered the city, the temperature at Melbourne’s Olympic Park dropped from a peak of 35.8 degrees at 1.30pm to 28.2 degrees by 3.26pm.
Meteorologist Kevin Parkyn said severe thunderstorms with the potential for damaging winds were expected to continue for several hours into Tuesday evening.
“The situation is very dynamic,” Parkyn said.
“Our colleagues from the State Emergency Service have been very busy responding to requests for assistance for trees and other damage associated with the strong winds.”
Powercor is reporting about 100,000 customers are without power due to unplanned outages caused by the storm. The areas with the most properties without power include Geelong and the Surf Coast, Ballarat, Maryborough and the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The energy provider said a combination of extreme temperatures, strong winds and thousands of lightning strikes caused damage to poles, wires and other electrical infrastructure.
Powercor powerlines went down in Browns Road in Werribee on Tuesday afternoon.
AGL Energy’s Loy Yang coal plant went offline shortly after 2pm; the exact cause of the outage is still being investigated.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said four units had shut down at Loy Yang.
“It means that industry has already had its power reduced. People at home – may have their power compromised. Business will be paying the price as well in terms of power outages or reductions.”
Public transport disrupted across the network
Metro Trains advised people to defer travel in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon due to reports of storm damage across the network, as the concourse and platforms at Flinders Street station overflowed with delayed peak-hour passengers. Passengers were advised to consider alternative transport options if possible.
Buses are replacing trains on several lines. Trains are impacted on sections of the Belgrave, Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Frankston, Glen Waverley and Pakenham lines.
Chaos for commuters at Flinders Street on Tuesday afternoon.Credit: Craig Platt
V/Line services have been suspended on sections of the Gippsland, Seymour and Shepparton lines.
Replacement buses are expected to be delayed in their arrival on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson said.
Metro services are impacted on the following lines:
- Belgrave between Ringwood and Belgrave
- Craigieburn between Essendon and Craigieburn
- Cranbourne/Pakenham between Caulfield and Westall
- Frankston between Caulfield and Moorabbin
- Glen Waverley between Darling and Glen Waverley
- Lilydale between Ringwood and Mooroolbark
- Alamein between Camberwell and Alamein
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said lightning had started several fires across the state, particularly in the west, which were threatening homes.
“We have seen a very challenging day today, with very, very hot, windy and dry conditions across the state,” he said.
“We’re seeing significant hail in a number of areas, with very, very strong winds to such a degree that they’ve even brought down some powerlines.”
A catastrophic fire rating was issued for the Wimmera for Tuesday. Melbourne and the western half of the state are under a total fire ban.
West Wimmera Mayor Tim Meyer told 3AW on Tuesday morning that schools and kindergartens had shut, which annoyed some residents.
Emergency management commissioner Rick Nugent said aircraft had been deployed to high-risk areas.
The heatwave that began on Saturday is expected to peter out on Wednesday, when the maximum temperature is predicted to fall to 19 degrees.
A catastrophic fire warning was last issued during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20, when 33 people died, 3000 homes were destroyed and more than 17 million hectares of land were burnt.
Heffernan, the CFA chief, told 3AW on Tuesday morning that Victoria had yet to experience any significant rainfall in February after wet weather hit the state earlier this summer.
With Hannah Kennelly
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL2NhdGFzdHJvcGhpYy1maXJlLWRhbmdlci1pbi12aWN0b3JpYS1zLXdlc3QtYXMtd29yc3QtY29uZGl0aW9ucy1zaW5jZS1ibGFjay1zdW1tZXItbG9vbS0yMDI0MDIwOS1wNWYzcDEuaHRtbNIBAA?oc=5
2024-02-13 07:08:27Z
CBMimAFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL2NhdGFzdHJvcGhpYy1maXJlLWRhbmdlci1pbi12aWN0b3JpYS1zLXdlc3QtYXMtd29yc3QtY29uZGl0aW9ucy1zaW5jZS1ibGFjay1zdW1tZXItbG9vbS0yMDI0MDIwOS1wNWYzcDEuaHRtbNIBAA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "‘Horrendous’ conditions as Grampians bushfire reaches township - The Age"
Post a Comment