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| Residents of Victorian town of Moyston told it is too late to flee bushfire | Residents of Victorian town of Moyston told it is too late to flee bushfire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Residents in the Victorian town of Moyston were warned on Friday it was too late for them to flee from an out-of-control fire that was moving towards the area. | Residents in the Victorian town of Moyston were warned on Friday it was too late for them to flee from an out-of-control fire that was moving towards the area. |
| The Country Fire Authority (CFA) issued an emergency warning for Moyston, a town of about 350 people approximately 220km north-west of Melbourne. | The Country Fire Authority (CFA) issued an emergency warning for Moyston, a town of about 350 people approximately 220km north-west of Melbourne. |
| A fast-moving grass fire was heading south-east along the Better Route Road towards Moyston, the CFA said. | A fast-moving grass fire was heading south-east along the Better Route Road towards Moyston, the CFA said. |
| Moyston residents were contacted by phone to tell them it was too late to leave town and to take shelter indoors “immediately”. A number of local roads were closed. | Moyston residents were contacted by phone to tell them it was too late to leave town and to take shelter indoors “immediately”. A number of local roads were closed. |
| The Victorian State Control Centre was unable to confirm reports a house near the town had been destroyed. | The Victorian State Control Centre was unable to confirm reports a house near the town had been destroyed. |
| For those who managed to escape the path of the fire, a relief centre was set up at the Ararat town hall, on the corner of Barkly and Vincent streets. Ararat is about 15km east of Moyston. | For those who managed to escape the path of the fire, a relief centre was set up at the Ararat town hall, on the corner of Barkly and Vincent streets. Ararat is about 15km east of Moyston. |
| “The threat is imminent and the fire is very fast-moving,” a CFA spokeswoman told Guardian Australia. | “The threat is imminent and the fire is very fast-moving,” a CFA spokeswoman told Guardian Australia. |
| Eleven water-bombing aircraft and 45 fire trucks were trying to bring the blaze under control. | Eleven water-bombing aircraft and 45 fire trucks were trying to bring the blaze under control. |
| On Friday afternoon two emergency warnings were also issued for fires in South Australia. | |
| An out-of-control scrub fire was threatening lives at Tantanoola in South Australia’s Lower South East region. The fire, near Mill Hill Road, was travelling in a south-easterly direction towards the Princes Highway and the Bluff at Burrungule. The state’s Country Fire Service (CFS) told residents who were not prepared to actively defend their homes to leave if the path was clear, before conditions became too dangerous. | |
| A bushfire at Humbug Scrub in the state’s Mount Lofty Ranges was also burning out of control and threatening lives. The Sampson Flat scrub fire, near Shillabeer Road, was burning in a south-easterly direction towards Airstrip Road and Kersbrook Road. There was a risk to lives and homes, the CFS says. | |
| The CFS had earlier downgraded the fire after more than 100 firefighters contained the blaze. Residents who are not prepared to actively defend their homes were told to leave if the path was clear, before conditions become too dangerous. Only homes that are actively defended and constructed to withstand a bushfire may provide safety, the CFS says. | |
| Victoria is at a heightened risk of bushfire due to soaring temperatures, high winds and possible lightning strikes over the coming days. Temperatures in parts of the state edged over 40C on Friday, with national parks closed down due to the threat of fire. | Victoria is at a heightened risk of bushfire due to soaring temperatures, high winds and possible lightning strikes over the coming days. Temperatures in parts of the state edged over 40C on Friday, with national parks closed down due to the threat of fire. |
| The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said the state was expecting some “very, very difficult days” and urged the public to look after vulnerable people and children. | The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said the state was expecting some “very, very difficult days” and urged the public to look after vulnerable people and children. |
| “Make no excuses, it is simply unacceptable to leave a child in a car for any period of time on days as hot as the next two,” he said. | “Make no excuses, it is simply unacceptable to leave a child in a car for any period of time on days as hot as the next two,” he said. |
| “Our emergency services do an outstanding job. They’re ready, they’re well-practised. In these extreme conditions, it’s up to every single Victorian to do the right thing, the smart thing.” | “Our emergency services do an outstanding job. They’re ready, they’re well-practised. In these extreme conditions, it’s up to every single Victorian to do the right thing, the smart thing.” |
| Police arrested a woman over a fire believed to have been deliberately lit in Tatura early on Friday morning. | Police arrested a woman over a fire believed to have been deliberately lit in Tatura early on Friday morning. |
| Fire crews were called to a grass fire on Craven Road, near the Midland Highway, about 3.20am. The fire was extinguished without incident. | Fire crews were called to a grass fire on Craven Road, near the Midland Highway, about 3.20am. The fire was extinguished without incident. |
| Later on Friday morning, a 49-year-old Tatura woman was arrested by detectives from the arson and explosives squad.. | Later on Friday morning, a 49-year-old Tatura woman was arrested by detectives from the arson and explosives squad.. |
| Police were investigating a similar grass fire that broke out around the same time on 30 December, and a series of at least 40 grass fires near Tatura over the past year. | Police were investigating a similar grass fire that broke out around the same time on 30 December, and a series of at least 40 grass fires near Tatura over the past year. |
| Tatura is a cattle-farming centre 160km north of Melbourne. It has a population of about 4,500. | Tatura is a cattle-farming centre 160km north of Melbourne. It has a population of about 4,500. |
| Detective acting senior sergeant Eric Harbis from the arson and explosive squad said it was lucky there were no injuries or property damage from Friday’s fire. | Detective acting senior sergeant Eric Harbis from the arson and explosive squad said it was lucky there were no injuries or property damage from Friday’s fire. |
| “As we head into the higher temperatures this weekend we are really calling on members of the community to be vigilant and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity with regards to fires,” he said. “These acts can devastate communities so if you see something, say something.” | “As we head into the higher temperatures this weekend we are really calling on members of the community to be vigilant and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity with regards to fires,” he said. “These acts can devastate communities so if you see something, say something.” |
| Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity or who has information about fires is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au. | Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity or who has information about fires is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au. |