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Victoria bushfires: thousands told to evacuate vast East Gippsland fire threat zone Victoria bushfires: thousands told to evacuate vast east Gippsland fire threat zone
(32 minutes later)
Visitors and residents told to ‘get out of’ an area half the size of Belgium immediately, in the face of historic fire threat day on MondayVisitors and residents told to ‘get out of’ an area half the size of Belgium immediately, in the face of historic fire threat day on Monday
Victorian authorities have told thousands of visitors and residents in East Gippsland – an area half the size of Belgium – to leave immediately in the face of a looming bushfire threat. Victorian authorities have told thousands of visitors and residents in East Gippsland – an area half the size of Belgium – to leave immediately as a bushfire threat looms.
Emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp issued the order on Sunday ahead of what the Bureau of Meteorology has called one of the “significant fire weather days in Victoria’s history”. The emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, issued the order on Sunday ahead of what the Bureau of Meteorology has called one of the “significant fire weather days in Victoria’s history”.
The final two days of the Falls Festival in Lorne, south-west of Melbourne, were cancelled on Sunday morning in anticipation of the extreme fire risk.The final two days of the Falls Festival in Lorne, south-west of Melbourne, were cancelled on Sunday morning in anticipation of the extreme fire risk.
The Otways in southwest Victoria, where the festival is held, and the alpine region including east Gippsland, are forecast to experience extreme heat and damaging winds, and thunderstorms are expected to bring dry lightning and new bushfires on Monday night. The Otways in south-west Victoria, where the festival is held, and the alpine region including east Gippsland, are forecast to experience extreme heat and damaging winds, and thunderstorms are expected to bring dry lightning and new bushfires on Monday night.
There were three active fires in East Gippsland on Sunday, with a combined area of more than 130,000ha. An evacuation warning has already been issued for the East Gippsland town of Goonergah, which is surrounded by high-value old growth forests. There were three active fires in east Gippsland on Sunday with a combined area of more than 130,000ha. An evacuation warning has been issued for the east Gippsland town of Goonergah, which is surrounded by high-value old growth forests.
East Gippsland is popular with campers and holidaymakers over the New Year period, with up to 30,000 people currently on holiday at Lakes Entrance, 300km east of Melbourne. East Gippsland is popular with campers and holidaymakers over the New Year period. Up to 30,000 people ar on holiday at Lakes Entrance, 300km east of Melbourne.
The main road in and out, the Princes Highway, was likely to be affected by fires on Monday, Crisp said. The Great Alpine Road, the other road out of East Gippsland, is already closed due to bushfires.The main road in and out, the Princes Highway, was likely to be affected by fires on Monday, Crisp said. The Great Alpine Road, the other road out of East Gippsland, is already closed due to bushfires.
“What we are saying now, based on the conditions that will be confronting us tomorrow across the state, but in particular in East Gippsland, is that if you’re holidaying in that part of the state, it’s time that you left,” Crisp told reporters on Sunday. “What we are saying now, based on the conditions that will be confronting us tomorrow across the state, but in particular in east Gippsland, is that if you’re holidaying in that part of the state, it’s time that you left,” he said.
“We want to give people time to leave East Gippsland now. So if you’re camping, if you’re in a holiday home, it is time … to leave this afternoon.” “We want to give people time to leave east Gippsland now. So if you’re camping, if you’re in a holiday home, it is time … to leave this afternoon.”
Emergency Victoria outlined a potential impact zone beginning just east of Bairnsdale and extending south along the coast to Cann River and then north to the NSW border. North of Bairnsdale, the impact zone stretches up to Omeo and then cuts back to the Deddick Valley.Emergency Victoria outlined a potential impact zone beginning just east of Bairnsdale and extending south along the coast to Cann River and then north to the NSW border. North of Bairnsdale, the impact zone stretches up to Omeo and then cuts back to the Deddick Valley.
The total affected area is about 15,000 square kilometres.The total affected area is about 15,000 square kilometres.
People who live in East Gippsland have been advised to stay with family or friends in Bairnsdale or other larger towns, and to leave no later than Monday morning. People who live in east Gippsland have been advised to stay with family or friends in Bairnsdale or other larger towns, and to leave no later than Monday morning.
Crisp said Parks Victoria was considering closing national parks in the region, and warned that camping in a national park was “the last place you should be”. Crisp said Parks Victoria was considering closing national parks in the region and warned that camping in a national park was “the last place you should be”.
“We are giving you fair warning – you should not be in the parks,” he said. “You might think you know where the fires are. There could be no fires that start and they could be close to you. You might not find a way out of where you are at the moment.” “We are giving you fair warning: you should not be in the parks,” he said. “You might think you know where the fires are. There could be fires that start and they could be close to you. You might not find a way out of where you are at the moment.”
Crisp said 550 state forest firefighters and 300 Country Fire Authority volunteers were standing by in the region, as well as 70 helicopters and water-bombing aircraft, but “there isn’t enough trucks to go around”. Crisp said 550 state forest firefighters and 300 Country Fire Authority volunteers were standing by as well as 70 helicopters and water-bombing aircraft, but “there isn’t enough trucks to go around”.
“So, don’t count on a fire truck protecting your particular house,” he said. “You need to get out of there.” “So don’t count on a fire truck protecting your particular house,” he said. “You need to get out of there.”
Crisp advised people in the area to register with the RedCross’s unification service as they left the area, to assist emergency services in trying to locate missing people and to reassure their families. Crisp advised people to register with the Red Cross’s unification service as they left to help emergency services trying to locate missing people and to reassure their families.
The fire danger is forecast to be extreme in seven of the nine districts of Victoria, and severe in the remaining two, which includes East Gippsland. The fire danger is forecast to be extreme in seven of the nine districts of Victoria, and severe in the remaining two, which includes east Gippsland.
Kevin Parkin, a senior meteorologist with the bureau, said Monday was “likely to be one of the significant fire weather days in Victoria’s history.” Kevin Parkin, a senior meteorologist with the bureau, said Monday was “likely to be one of the significant fire weather days in Victoria’s history”.
Parkin said temperatures were forecast to top 40C across most of the state, including Melbourne and parts of East Gippsland, but the dangerous fire conditions were due to a wind change that would reach the south-west coast between 1pm and 2pm, and would reach the Gippsland fire grounds near midnight on Monday.Parkin said temperatures were forecast to top 40C across most of the state, including Melbourne and parts of East Gippsland, but the dangerous fire conditions were due to a wind change that would reach the south-west coast between 1pm and 2pm, and would reach the Gippsland fire grounds near midnight on Monday.
“The wind change is very problematic when it comes to fires and the landscape because it lights up the whole flanks of fires quickly,” he said. “It’s a very serious life-threatening situation. Make no mistake about it.”“The wind change is very problematic when it comes to fires and the landscape because it lights up the whole flanks of fires quickly,” he said. “It’s a very serious life-threatening situation. Make no mistake about it.”
In New South Wales the worst fire danger will come on Tuesday, when the wind change will move up the coast. The entire coastal stretch of NSW up to the Greater Sydney region, then moving inland to the Greater Hunter, will experience extreme fire danger on Tuesday. In New South Wales the worst fire danger will come on Tuesday when the wind change will move up the coast. The entire coastal stretch of NSW up to the greater Sydney region, then moving inland to the greater Hunter, will experience extreme fire danger on Tuesday.
“We need everyone to ensure they have got their plans, and a plan isn’t just about being at home,” NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzimmons said. “A plan is about when you’re travelling. Whether you’re out visiting loved ones, or out taking a break somewhere, spending time with family – have the bushfire survival plan relevant to where you are.” “We need everyone to ensure they have got their plans, and a plan isn’t just about being at home,” NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. “A plan is about when you’re travelling. Whether you’re out visiting loved ones, or out taking a break somewhere, spending time with family. Have the bushfire survival plan relevant to where you are.”
On Sunday the prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced that volunteer firefighters in NSW would be eligible for compensation for loss of income, and said assistance would be extended to other states if requested. On Sunday the prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced that volunteer firefighters in NSW would be eligible for compensation for loss of income and said assistance would be extended to other states if requested.