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Five Victorian towns evacuated in path of Great Ocean Road bushfire Great Ocean Road bushfire: homes destroyed as five towns evacuated
(about 1 hour later)
Five Victorian tourist towns, including Lorne, were evacuated as an out-of-control bushfire threatened hundreds of homes on the Great Ocean Road on Friday. At least four houses were lost. Dozens of homes were feared destroyed on Christmas Day as five Victorian tourist towns including Lorne were evacuated due to an out-of-control bushfire raging along the Great Ocean Road.
Steve Warrington of the Victorian emergency services’ State Control Centre told the ABC that it was thought more than 50 homes had been lost by Friday night to a huge blaze that he said could continue burning through the summer.
People in the holiday towns of Wye River, Separation Creek, Kennett River and Grey River were told to evacuate at lunchtime on Christmas Day.People in the holiday towns of Wye River, Separation Creek, Kennett River and Grey River were told to evacuate at lunchtime on Christmas Day.
On Friday evening the Country Fire Authority also issued an evacuation notice for the town of Lorne, where the population of 1,000 swells during summer.On Friday evening the Country Fire Authority also issued an evacuation notice for the town of Lorne, where the population of 1,000 swells during summer.
“The fire is moving into Separation Creek and is burning houses,” fire commissioner Craig Lapsley told the ABC on Friday night.“The fire is moving into Separation Creek and is burning houses,” fire commissioner Craig Lapsley told the ABC on Friday night.
Separation Creek and Wye River were both evacuated and stood empty as the 1,300-hectare bushfire raged. CFA incident controller Mark Gunning said: “Locals believe it will severely impact the west and south side of Lorne.” Separation Creek and Wye River stood empty as the 1,300-hectare bushfire raged. CFA incident controller Mark Gunning said: “Locals believe it will severely impact the west and south side of Lorne.”
The CFA advised residents to seek shelter in Torquay. It said a wind change forecast for the evening was expected to push the fire towards Lorne and surrounding areas including Allendale, North Lorne and the Cumberland River area. Residents of Kennett River and Grey River were advised to seek shelter at the Apollo Bay Leisure Centre. Locals and visitors in Lorne, Allenvale, North Lorne and Cumberland River were told to seek shelter at the Torquay Relief Centre.
A State Control Centre spokeswoman said spot fires were landing up to 2km away from the fire front and even as far as the coastline. The CFA said a wind change forecast for the evening was expected to push the fire towards Lorne and surrounding areas including Allendale, North Lorne and the Cumberland River area.
Residents were told to head south along the Great Ocean Road – which was reopened to allow them to get out – and seek shelter at the Apollo Bay leisure centre. Reports said rain was falling in Apollo Bay on Friday night.
A State Control Centre spokeswoman said spot fires were landing up to 2km away from the fire front and even as far as the coastline. The Great Ocean Road was reopened to allow people to get out.
Jo Birley, from the Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, said people in the Otway Ranges were braced for a bad summer.Jo Birley, from the Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, said people in the Otway Ranges were braced for a bad summer.
“The Otways haven’t had a serious fire for a long, long time,” Birley said. “The last few years, it’s sort of been that feeling of if and when it does happen, that it will be very serious.”“The Otways haven’t had a serious fire for a long, long time,” Birley said. “The last few years, it’s sort of been that feeling of if and when it does happen, that it will be very serious.”
She said the community was getting ready to help those cut off from their homes.She said the community was getting ready to help those cut off from their homes.
“There are a number of people gathering around the leisure centre... some people have offered to put their hand up and help,” she said.“There are a number of people gathering around the leisure centre... some people have offered to put their hand up and help,” she said.
Luckily the influx came when Apollo Bay shops and businesses were preparing for one of the busiest days of the year. The influx came when Apollo Bay shops and businesses were preparing for one of the busiest days of the year.
“At this stage we still have power, we still have supplies, we were prepared for a four-day long weekend,” Birley said.“At this stage we still have power, we still have supplies, we were prepared for a four-day long weekend,” Birley said.
“So the businesses, the hospitality businesses, have stock and supply.”“So the businesses, the hospitality businesses, have stock and supply.”
Temperatures hit 35C on Friday afternoon, while strong winds made firefighting efforts difficult.Temperatures hit 35C on Friday afternoon, while strong winds made firefighting efforts difficult.
Kennett River and Grey River residents were told to evacuate before 2.30pm or stay put.Kennett River and Grey River residents were told to evacuate before 2.30pm or stay put.
Related: Christmas comes with weather worries for South Australia, Victoria and NTRelated: Christmas comes with weather worries for South Australia, Victoria and NT
“The fire at Lorne and the fire at Wye River are both of significant concern to us,” said Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews. “With extreme heat and high winds, with the change expected to come through in the early part of the evening. “The fire at Lorne and the fire at Wye River are both of significant concern to us,” said Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews. “With extreme heat and high winds, with the change expected to come through in the early part of the evening … things are unstable, things are unsettling as well, there is a real sense of concern in those local communities.”
“Things are unstable, things are unsettling as well, there is a real sense of concern in those local communities.” Claire Yeo, a senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said a cold front would hopefully bring some rain and relief to Victoria.
A fast-moving grass fire at Sunbury, on Melbourne’s northwestern outskirts, also threatened homes.
Claire Yeo, a senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said relief in the form of a cold front would arrive in Victoria around sunset and a little earlier in South Australia, bringing some welcome rain.
“Most of the rainfall in Victoria will be in the early hours of Saturday, moving into eastern Victoria and New South Wales during Boxing Day.”“Most of the rainfall in Victoria will be in the early hours of Saturday, moving into eastern Victoria and New South Wales during Boxing Day.”
Related: Firefighters still battling bushfires that destroyed 16 homes in VictoriaRelated: Firefighters still battling bushfires that destroyed 16 homes in Victoria
Yeo said there could be implications for the cricket Test, but the heaviest rainfall was likely to hit Melbourne before the match started.
Temperatures around Melbourne hit 35C, while strong winds were expected to change direction with a change moving across the state in the evening.Temperatures around Melbourne hit 35C, while strong winds were expected to change direction with a change moving across the state in the evening.
Total fire bans were declared in regions across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, with temperatures tipped to hit the high 30s or more in many areas.Total fire bans were declared in regions across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, with temperatures tipped to hit the high 30s or more in many areas.
Meanwhile a Boxing Day cyclone was looking less likely to form off the Northern Territory. The Bureau of Meteorology said a low-pressure system that had been forecast to move south-east and form into a cyclone over the Gulf of Carpentaria had instead looped back to settle over the Top End.Meanwhile a Boxing Day cyclone was looking less likely to form off the Northern Territory. The Bureau of Meteorology said a low-pressure system that had been forecast to move south-east and form into a cyclone over the Gulf of Carpentaria had instead looped back to settle over the Top End.
Forecaster Angeline Prasad said the storm had been unpredictable since the cyclone watch was issued for the south-west gulf on Thursday.Forecaster Angeline Prasad said the storm had been unpredictable since the cyclone watch was issued for the south-west gulf on Thursday.
Prasad said the system would remain where it was or push east into the gulf on Saturday afternoon and form into a category one cyclone.Prasad said the system would remain where it was or push east into the gulf on Saturday afternoon and form into a category one cyclone.
“It’s still a fairly warm, deep system,” she said, causing wild weather all over the Top End.“It’s still a fairly warm, deep system,” she said, causing wild weather all over the Top End.
The eastern side was being particularly pummelled by severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfalls of up to 300mm in some areas, flash flooding, heavy surf and strong to gale-force winds with gusts of up to 90km/h.The eastern side was being particularly pummelled by severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfalls of up to 300mm in some areas, flash flooding, heavy surf and strong to gale-force winds with gusts of up to 90km/h.
“Although we actually don’t actually have a cyclone it’s near enough,” Prasad said.“Although we actually don’t actually have a cyclone it’s near enough,” Prasad said.
A cyclone watch was issued for the coast from Port Roper to the Queensland border, including Groote Eylandt.A cyclone watch was issued for the coast from Port Roper to the Queensland border, including Groote Eylandt.
Hobart was on track to record its second hottest Christmas, with the 33C predicted just short of the record 34.6C set in 1945.Hobart was on track to record its second hottest Christmas, with the 33C predicted just short of the record 34.6C set in 1945.
South Australia’s Country Fire Service state co-ordinator, Leigh Miller, said the state’s forecast conditions were the worst he could recall for Christmas Day in almost 30 years.South Australia’s Country Fire Service state co-ordinator, Leigh Miller, said the state’s forecast conditions were the worst he could recall for Christmas Day in almost 30 years.
“We don’t need to have catastrophic conditions for bad fires to start,” he told reporters.“We don’t need to have catastrophic conditions for bad fires to start,” he told reporters.
Related: Victorian firefighters try to control bushfires near Lorne and Wye RiverRelated: Victorian firefighters try to control bushfires near Lorne and Wye River
The 109 yachts tacking and jibing from Sydney to Hobart as part of the annual race were expected to face choppy seas outside Sydney head when setting off on Boxing Day.The 109 yachts tacking and jibing from Sydney to Hobart as part of the annual race were expected to face choppy seas outside Sydney head when setting off on Boxing Day.
A southerly of up to 35 knots and rough conditions were pridcted for the fleet’s first night at sea.A southerly of up to 35 knots and rough conditions were pridcted for the fleet’s first night at sea.
“It’s not a really strong one, but it does pack a fair bit of punch with it,” said Michael Loganhe of the New South Wales Bureau of Meteorology.“It’s not a really strong one, but it does pack a fair bit of punch with it,” said Michael Loganhe of the New South Wales Bureau of Meteorology.
“It does fringe into the lower end of the gale warning category. It will make for rough conditions; it’s setting up for quite an eventful first night.”“It does fringe into the lower end of the gale warning category. It will make for rough conditions; it’s setting up for quite an eventful first night.”
Australian Associated Press contributed to this report.Australian Associated Press contributed to this report.