Firefighters are reaching a “critical part of the day” as a wind change begins moving through Victoria’s west, the State Control Centre says.
On Thursday afternoon, VicEmergency warned people in the towns of Glenthompson, Kia Ora, Moyston, Stavely, Strathmore, Willaura and Willaura North to leave immediately as the fire in the Grampians National Park continued to rage.
Earlier in the day VicEmergency warned those living in Bornes Hill and the North Boundary Road area, south of the Grampians, that it was too late to leave their homes and that they should seek shelter from the fire.
Other Victorians in high-fire-risk areas were given until 10am to leave their homes before Thursday’s strong winds and scorching heat make evacuating too dangerous. An alert was issued about 11.30am for residents of Mafeking to leave immediately. By the early afternoon they were told to take shelter immediately.
About 3pm control centre spokesman Luke Heagerty said warnings were being adjusted as the wind change hit fire grounds.
“We’re reaching a critical part of the day when we see the wind change moving through the western part of the state, and in particular through the areas where we’ve seen fire activity,” he said.
In the state
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