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| Bushfires: Barnawartha residents told to take shelter as conditions deteriorate | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An out-of-control grass fire is raging towards residents in Victoria’s northeast who have been warned it’s too late to leave their homes. | |
| The Country Fire Authority issued an emergency warning for Barnawartha, Indigo Upper and Indigo Valley about 12.30pm on Sunday. | |
| “You are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave,” the CFA said. | |
| A predicted southwesterly change hit the area with wind gusts up to 80km/h as conditions rapidly deteriorated. | |
| All of the state’s firefighting aircraft had been dispatched to help crews on the ground. | |
| The emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said authorities were battling numerous fires across Victoria. | |
| “The reason we emphasise wind change is that things change when the winds change,” he told reporters on Sunday. | |
| “If we have a fire running, it’s fed with a northerly, it changes direction and it’s very dynamic and can become an unsafe fire ground not only for our firefighters but our communities too.” | |
| He said the 4000ha Scotsburn fire, near Ballarat, was of critical concern and at least eight buildings had already been destroyed. | |
| The volatile conditions at Scotsburn had caught many off guard, he said. | |
| Firefighters were trapped and forced to shelter in their tankers as the bushfire burned over them in two separate incidents on Saturday, the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said earlier. | |
| The fire near Scotsburn is one of four fires burning out of control in Victoria, fanned by temperatures of up to 40C and winds gusting up to 100km/h. | |
| At a press conference in the Victorian fire control centre on Sunday, Andrews said firefighters in three Country Fire Authority tankers – two at one location and one at another – were trapped in the unpredictable conditions in the Scotsburn fire and had to initiate their burn-over procedures, which allowed them to shelter in the tankers while the fire burned around them. | At a press conference in the Victorian fire control centre on Sunday, Andrews said firefighters in three Country Fire Authority tankers – two at one location and one at another – were trapped in the unpredictable conditions in the Scotsburn fire and had to initiate their burn-over procedures, which allowed them to shelter in the tankers while the fire burned around them. |
| “Those firefighters came out safe,” Andrews said. “The protocols worked and in a great symbol of what our volunteers and career firefighters mean, what they are really about, those firefighters were back on the fireground just a short while later.” | “Those firefighters came out safe,” Andrews said. “The protocols worked and in a great symbol of what our volunteers and career firefighters mean, what they are really about, those firefighters were back on the fireground just a short while later.” |
| Victorian emergency services commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said the firefighters were facing “erratic fire conditions” caused when a storm cell crossed the smoke from the bushfire, causing it to move west despite the prevailing winds from the north. | Victorian emergency services commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said the firefighters were facing “erratic fire conditions” caused when a storm cell crossed the smoke from the bushfire, causing it to move west despite the prevailing winds from the north. |
| “That actually caught firefighters out,” Lapsley said. “They actually realised it and had a short warning, put all their procedures in place, were impacted by fire and came out of there with a story to tell of what they have done to be able to succeed under very, very, very trying circumstances.” | “That actually caught firefighters out,” Lapsley said. “They actually realised it and had a short warning, put all their procedures in place, were impacted by fire and came out of there with a story to tell of what they have done to be able to succeed under very, very, very trying circumstances.” |
| One of the firefighters sustained a burn, but there were no other reported injuries. | One of the firefighters sustained a burn, but there were no other reported injuries. |
| Related: Firestorm: The story of the bushfire at Dunalley | Related: Firestorm: The story of the bushfire at Dunalley |
| Lapsley said the unpredictable conditions also trapped residents at their homes as the fire approached, and said the casualties could have been much worse. | Lapsley said the unpredictable conditions also trapped residents at their homes as the fire approached, and said the casualties could have been much worse. |
| “Yesterday had potential to be a very significant day,” he said. “The losses are losses but had the potential to be huge in numbers so let’s look at some of the saves, great firefighting, great initial response to all fires and we’ve only got a small number that we’re still dealing with.” | “Yesterday had potential to be a very significant day,” he said. “The losses are losses but had the potential to be huge in numbers so let’s look at some of the saves, great firefighting, great initial response to all fires and we’ve only got a small number that we’re still dealing with.” |
| The Scotsburn fire is believed to have been started by the use of machinery in a paddock on Saturday and had burned through 4,000ha by Sunday morning. It was expected to be affected by a cool change around 12pm, which would swing the wind around from a northerly to a south-westerly, potentially turning the long flank of the fire into the new fire front. | The Scotsburn fire is believed to have been started by the use of machinery in a paddock on Saturday and had burned through 4,000ha by Sunday morning. It was expected to be affected by a cool change around 12pm, which would swing the wind around from a northerly to a south-westerly, potentially turning the long flank of the fire into the new fire front. |
| “We could have a fire running it’s fed with a northerly, it then changes direction and it’s quite critical, it’s very dynamic, it can become a very unsafe fireground not only for our firefighters but for our community,” Lapsley said. | “We could have a fire running it’s fed with a northerly, it then changes direction and it’s quite critical, it’s very dynamic, it can become a very unsafe fireground not only for our firefighters but for our community,” Lapsley said. |
| A watch and act warning remains in place for the fire and community meetings were held at Buninyong and Meredith on Sunday. | A watch and act warning remains in place for the fire and community meetings were held at Buninyong and Meredith on Sunday. |
| Crews have not yet been able to go into the fire ground to survey the extent of the damage, and it’s not yet known if the eight properties destroyed lost houses or just sheds and outbuildings. | Crews have not yet been able to go into the fire ground to survey the extent of the damage, and it’s not yet known if the eight properties destroyed lost houses or just sheds and outbuildings. |
| Jane Garrett, emergency services minister, said veterinarians had been sent out to help farmers assess their stock losses, as well as treat any injured wildlife. She said one of the properties damaged was a horse stud, and additional vets were helping the owners “with what is a very traumatic time”. | Jane Garrett, emergency services minister, said veterinarians had been sent out to help farmers assess their stock losses, as well as treat any injured wildlife. She said one of the properties damaged was a horse stud, and additional vets were helping the owners “with what is a very traumatic time”. |
| Garrett said initial emergency relief payments of $1,300, and grants of up to $32,000, had been made available to affected people through relief centres a Buninyong and Ballan. | Garrett said initial emergency relief payments of $1,300, and grants of up to $32,000, had been made available to affected people through relief centres a Buninyong and Ballan. |
| Lapsley said fire crews were also working to control three fires sparked by lifghtning strikes, which were all burning in thick, forested areas. Aerial tankers were dropping fire retardant on blazes in the Otways national park, northwest of Lorne; the Black Range and areas near Buxton, about 80km northeast of Melbourne, near Marysville; and in an area east of Orbost in East Gippsland. | Lapsley said fire crews were also working to control three fires sparked by lifghtning strikes, which were all burning in thick, forested areas. Aerial tankers were dropping fire retardant on blazes in the Otways national park, northwest of Lorne; the Black Range and areas near Buxton, about 80km northeast of Melbourne, near Marysville; and in an area east of Orbost in East Gippsland. |
| A watch and act warning has also been issued for a fire at Wandin North, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne. | A watch and act warning has also been issued for a fire at Wandin North, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne. |
| “We are obviously working on those to ensure that we have them under control today and we are not working on them for a number of days,” Lapsley said. | “We are obviously working on those to ensure that we have them under control today and we are not working on them for a number of days,” Lapsley said. |
| “The potential there is if we don’t get them into a control position they may be in that bush for days on end and we don’t want that prior to Christmas.” | “The potential there is if we don’t get them into a control position they may be in that bush for days on end and we don’t want that prior to Christmas.” |
| Police have also charged a 34-year-old man with conduct endangering life for allegedly lighting a fire near Epping, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, one of 300 fires to start around the state on Saturday. He was remanded in custody and will face court on Monday. | Police have also charged a 34-year-old man with conduct endangering life for allegedly lighting a fire near Epping, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, one of 300 fires to start around the state on Saturday. He was remanded in custody and will face court on Monday. |
| Total fire bans were also issued for eight areas across southern and western NSW as well as the ACT, with severe fire danger ratings in place across the same regions. | Total fire bans were also issued for eight areas across southern and western NSW as well as the ACT, with severe fire danger ratings in place across the same regions. |
| Conditions eased overnight helping firefighters contain a blaze in thick scrub near Williamtown north of Newcastle but authorities were bracing for soaring temperatures on Sunday. | Conditions eased overnight helping firefighters contain a blaze in thick scrub near Williamtown north of Newcastle but authorities were bracing for soaring temperatures on Sunday. |
| “All fires are being monitored for flare ups,” a Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesman said. “The total fire bans have been triggered by hot dry winds, low humidity and very hot conditions that are expected on Sunday.” | “All fires are being monitored for flare ups,” a Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesman said. “The total fire bans have been triggered by hot dry winds, low humidity and very hot conditions that are expected on Sunday.” |
| Firefighters were closely monitoring a large bushfire near the NSW-ACT border which has been burning since Wednesday night. | Firefighters were closely monitoring a large bushfire near the NSW-ACT border which has been burning since Wednesday night. |
| NSW RFS were urging people to make sure their fire plans were in place with temperatures quickly rising. | NSW RFS were urging people to make sure their fire plans were in place with temperatures quickly rising. |
| Many parts of the state were set to hit at least 40C, including the Riverina, the Central West Slopes and Plains, inland in the Hunter region and Penrith in western Sydney, according to the weather bureau. | Many parts of the state were set to hit at least 40C, including the Riverina, the Central West Slopes and Plains, inland in the Hunter region and Penrith in western Sydney, according to the weather bureau. |
| The mercury in western NSW will rise to at least 41C on Sunday, said the BoM. | The mercury in western NSW will rise to at least 41C on Sunday, said the BoM. |
| In Tasmania, fire crews were also bracing for soaring temperatures and extreme conditions on Sunday. Fire bans were in place in the state’s north and south. | In Tasmania, fire crews were also bracing for soaring temperatures and extreme conditions on Sunday. Fire bans were in place in the state’s north and south. |
| Tasmania Fire Service spokesman Michael Watkins said five fighters were controlled in the north of the state, and crews were attending to two other fires, but it was not yet known how bad those fires are. | Tasmania Fire Service spokesman Michael Watkins said five fighters were controlled in the north of the state, and crews were attending to two other fires, but it was not yet known how bad those fires are. |
| “At 9am it was 28C in Launceston,” he said. “Winds are already at 20-30km/h which makes it difficult for fire crews.” | “At 9am it was 28C in Launceston,” he said. “Winds are already at 20-30km/h which makes it difficult for fire crews.” |
| Conditions are likely to improve during the week but fire bans could be in place for Christmas Day as the reprieve is only expected to last a few days. | Conditions are likely to improve during the week but fire bans could be in place for Christmas Day as the reprieve is only expected to last a few days. |
| Meanwhile, Adelaide was finally starting to cool down following a record run of temperatures above 40C. On Saturday temperatures in the city peaked at 43.2C at 4pm but by that evening the mercury was descending, although remaining in the high 30s during the start of the expected cool change. | Meanwhile, Adelaide was finally starting to cool down following a record run of temperatures above 40C. On Saturday temperatures in the city peaked at 43.2C at 4pm but by that evening the mercury was descending, although remaining in the high 30s during the start of the expected cool change. |
| Saturday was the fourth consecutive day where the mercury topped 40C and the blistering conditions have been blamed on a stationary high pressure system in the Tasman Sea which has been dragging hot air from the centre of Australia. Some crops were destroyed as 15 fires burnt, started by lightning strikes. | Saturday was the fourth consecutive day where the mercury topped 40C and the blistering conditions have been blamed on a stationary high pressure system in the Tasman Sea which has been dragging hot air from the centre of Australia. Some crops were destroyed as 15 fires burnt, started by lightning strikes. |
| Country Fire Service spokesman Mark Wheeler said a cool change arrived in the early hours of Sunday, with temperatures dropping significantly and rain falling across the state. | Country Fire Service spokesman Mark Wheeler said a cool change arrived in the early hours of Sunday, with temperatures dropping significantly and rain falling across the state. |
| “There are no fire events to speak of at the moment,” Wheeler said. “We effectively dodged a bullet yesterday.” | “There are no fire events to speak of at the moment,” Wheeler said. “We effectively dodged a bullet yesterday.” |
| Australian Associated Press contributed to this report | Australian Associated Press contributed to this report |