CFA Emergency Updates

Emergency: Triple Zero (000)

Victorian Bushfire Information Line: 1800 240 667

Up to 12 homes were destroyed and thousands of firefighters battled more than 150 bushfires across the state on Sunday amid nightmarish weather conditions, the worst since Black Saturday.  

Thousands of people  were evacuated from their homes amid strong winds and temperatures in the high 30s as fast-moving blazes reached  suburban Melbourne. Gale-force winds also fed fast-moving fires in many rural areas, including East Gippsland, the Latrobe Valley and Shepparton. 

Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the crisis would continue into Monday and communities were still in danger, despite forecast lower temperatures, with dry, strong winds set to continue.   

Late on Sunday, the CFA reported 85 active fires and issued, according to a spokeswoman, an ‘‘unprecedented’’ 40 emergency warnings.  

At 9.30pm on Sunday night, there were 571 fire fighting trucks and other appliances still fighting fires.  

Across the border in South Australia, a large bushfire burnt out of control in the southern Flinders Ranges, with more than 33,000 hectares burned, threatening the towns of Laura, Wirrabara, Beetaloo and Stone Hut. 

Mr Lapsley said the Victorian fires had been ‘‘intense, fast-moving and in some cases  moved on to properties with limited time to warn residents in those areas’’

9.20pm: Up to 10 homes were destroyed and thousands of firefighters battled more than 150 bushfires across the state on Sunday amid nightmarish weather conditions, the worst since Black Saturday.    

Late on Sunday, the CFA reported 78 active fires and issued, according to a spokeswoman, an ‘‘unprecedented’’ 40 emergency warnings.  

9.09pm: Residents in communities north of Shepparton have been urged to seek shelter with an out-of-control grass fire bearing down.
A CFA spokeswoman said there was “quite a cluster” of fires threatening communities located about 30 kilometres north of Shepparton.
About 7pm, the CFA advised residents in Numurkah, Wunghnu and Invergordon to seek shelter due to an out-of-control grassfire.
The fast-moving fire was travelling from Reilly's Pit Road, with residents in Numurkah’s fringes urged to seek shelter at the Cobram Basketball Centre, off Campbell Road.
Shamrock Hotel Numurkah owner Mark Brown told Fairfax Media the fires were yet to have any impact in the heart of the town and he had not noticed a large number of evacuations. 
“We’re in the hotel and still trading,” he said. 
Numurkah is a rural town of less than 5000 people.
The Goulburn Valley Highway between Tallygaroopna and Numurkah is closed.
The Barmah-Shepparton Road is closed.
The Katamatite-Shepparton Main Road is closed between Congupna and Drumanure Roads.

6.20pm: An emergency warning has been issued for residents in Beveridge, Darraweit Guim, Donnybrook, Kalkallo, Mickelham and Wallan.

An out-of-control is moving north and has crossed Donnybrook Road and is heading toward Beveridge, Donnybrook, Kalkall, Wallan and Darraweit Guim. 

The CFA says the expected wind change has occurred and it is too late to leave. The safest option is to shelter indoors immediately.

RELIEF CENTRES IN THE AREA:

Wallan Basketball Stadium - 48 Bentinck Street Wallan
Craigieburn Leisure Centre - 127 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn
Sunbury Baskelball Stadium - 1 Mitchells Lane Sunbury

6.12pm: An emergency warning has been issued for Riddells Creek, which is currently being impacted by the Dalrymple Road fire at Gisborne.

The fire is out of control and is travelling north-east.

The CFA advises residents should act now to protect themselves and it is too late to leave. The safest option is to shelter indoors immediately.

5.17pm: The Princes Highway remains closed in both directions between Timbillica in NSW and Orbost in Victoria..

Further west, the Monaro Highway has now been closed southbound at Imlay Road near the town of Rockton also due to the bushfires.

Timbillica and Rockton are both north of the NSW / Victorian border.

Motorists in NSW who are travelling southbound on the Princes Highway or the Monaro Highway are being turned around at these closure points.

There is no forecast as to when either of the Highways will be reopen.

5.15pm: Fire activity has subsided in Malmsbury with the town given the all clear. 

Fire commissioner Craig Lapsley has said tomorrow wont change conditions. 

"Tomorrow will be cooler however it doesn't change the conditions. It doesn't bring rain and we'll see the fire danger decrease but the potential for the fire still to do damage over the next number of days is there."

5.10pm: An emergency warning is in place for Morwell Bridge and Morwell West. 

The CFA warns people north of the Prices Highway and west of Latrobe Road are under threat. 

The fire is travelling in a north-east direction towards Morwell. 

5.03pm: An emergency warning has been issued for the towns of Beveridge, Darraweit Guim, Donnybrook, Kalkallo, Michleham and Wallan. 

The fast moving fire has crossed Donnybrook Roads and is heading for the towns. 

Residents have been told it is too late to leave. Take shelter indoors immediately. 

5.01pm: An emergency warning has been issued for Riddells Creek. 

The Gisborne fire has crossed Jacksons Creek and is heading in a north-easterly direction from Gisborne South towards Riddells Creek. 

Spot fires and ember attacks are occurring. 

It is too late for residents to leave. 

4.56pm: Watch and Act warnings are in place for  Invergordon, Katandra West and Marungi. the central Victorian towns of Lancefield and Romsey.

4.35pm: Wind changes are hampering fire operations as aircraft are unable to fly in strong winds across the state. 

The fire threat in the Warrandyte area has been downgraded to Watch and Act. 

There are currently two recommendations to evacuate, 11 emergency warnings, 10 watch and acts and 21 advice messages across Victoria. 

4.30pm: Melbourne Airport remains open this afternoon. 

A fire on the southern boundary earlier this morning was contained. Flights were not impacted by the fire. 

4.17pm: 

The fire danger will diminish once a cooler change comes through Victoria this afternoon, but it wont drop a long way with strong winds forecast. 

Fire areas north and east of Melbourne will be the most affected with a 90 degree shift in winds, causing fires to rapidly change direction

Watch the video below for more from Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke.  

4.05pm: An emergency warning has been issued for Driffield and Hazelwood. 

The fast moving grassfire is travelling in a North Easterly direction from Creamery Road towards Hazelwood. 

Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. 

A relief centre has been established at Moe or Taralgon, or travel to family or friends away from the warning area. 

4pm: Aircraft, helicopters and NSW Rural Fire Service units have been flown into Victoria this afternoon to assist with firefighting operations. 

Firefighting units from South Australia are unable to help because of their own emergency situation. 

MFB, CFA, NSW and NZ firefighers are working on containing the fires burning across the state. 

3.55pm: Victorian Police have been deployed to seven fires across the state this afternoon. 

Chief Police Commissioner Ken Lay said the fires have not been categorised as arson at this stage, and police are working to determine what has started the fires. 

Police are on the scene of the Warrandyte fire, as well as six others around the state. 

3.50pm: "This is the most serious fire day we have had in the state in five years," CFA chief commissioner Craig Lapsley. 

"Property will be damaged and lost today." 

Commissioner Lapsley said they were unable to say how many houses had been damaged at this time, but some houses were being impacted by the fires within minutes of them starting. 

A cool change moving across the state tonight will provide little relief to firefighters as it brings winds which will see fires continue to move. 

While the danger will decrease with the cooler change, the fires will continue to cause damage to the area. 

3.47pm: Thirty-seven fires are burning across Victoria this afternoon with a fire in Gisborne threatening properties and houses. 

A firefighter has been injured while fighting a fire in the state by a falling tree. They were treated at the scene by paramedics. 

Two houses have been impacted by fires already, one at Cragieburn by the Michelham Road fire and one at Gisborne. 

There has also been confirmation two houses have been lost, one at Warrandyte, and one at Mickleham. 

3.25pm: Thirty-eight roads  major roads across Victoria have now been closed due to fires. 

Major road closures include: 

- Princes Freeway, Trafalgar East

-  Hume Highway Mickleham

- Calder Freeway, Gisborne

- Princes Highway, Cann River

- Princes Highway, Orbost

For all road closures visit: http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/

3.15pm: There are concerns for the suburbs of Mickelham, Warrandyte and Gisborne. 

Emergency warnings are also in place for Clarkefield, Riddells Creek, Goonawarra, Sunbury, The Gap, Alberton Westy, Hiawatha, Jack River, Madalya and Stacey's Bridge.

3.10pm: There are 11 emergency warnings for fires burning across Victoria on Sunday afternoon. 

Residents in Bete Bolong, Bete Bolong North and Jarrahmond have been recommended to evacuate. 

There are multiple fires northwest of Orbost that are not yet under control and are moving in a south easterly direction.

The fires are expected to impact anytime within the next two hours.

The CFA is warning residents of the area to evacuate before 5pm. It is strongly recommended residents evacuate and seek shelter at the Orbost Relief Centre at Orbost Secondary College in Arnold Street. 

Turn on your vehicle headlights and drive slowly; smoke will make it difficult to see.

3pm: At Riddells Creek, north west of Melbourne, an emergency warning has been issued for residents in the Nolans Road and Kerrie Road areas.

The fast-moving grass fire is out of control and travelling north.

Spot fires and ember attacks are occurring ahead of the fire.

More information: traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au