Communities in Victoria's Grampians region have been ordered to evacuate while others must seek shelter as an incoming wind change threatens to trigger unpredictable bushfire conditions.
A flurry of emergency warnings urging people to leave immediately have been issued for towns north of the national park from Pomonal to Ledcourt and in the east for areas surrounding Moyston, Strathmore and Willaura.
Evacuation orders have also extended beyond the national park to areas surrounding Maroona to Westmere, south of Ararat, as a wind change moves in from the west.
"Weather conditions have changed. Winds have strengthened pushing the fire across control lines," the VicEmergency warning said.
An EMERGENCY WARNING - BUSHFIRE - Leave Immediately is being issued for Langi Logan, Maroona, Mininera, Nerrin Nerrin, Rossbridge, Streatham, Tatyoon, Tatyoon North, Westmere. — VicEmergency (@vicemergency) More details at https://t.co/jRUxD1PA0r pic.twitter.com/FmW4fbaRGKDecember 26, 2024
People remaining in Mafeking, Bornes Hill and communities surrounding Halls Gap were told they had no option other than to stay inside.
"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately," authorities warned.
Much of Australia's southeast is being enveloped by a windy swelter generating catastrophic conditions.
Hot, dry air is blanketing swathes of Victoria, southwestern NSW and much of eastern South Australia, with damaging winds fanning extreme fire danger.
The mercury was expected to reach the high 30s or 40s for much of Victoria and inland Australia on Thursday.
Two wind changes were likely to affect the Grampians: one driving through about 3pm and a stronger southwesterly arriving about 6pm.
By mid afternoon, Victoria State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said fire crews were reaching a "critical part" of the day.
"We're expecting strong winds and variable winds to be a concern over the next few hours," he said.
Incident Controller Mark Gunning said the scenario could make the fires spread unpredictably.
"As the wind goes across the ranges in the Grampians, it'll make its own conditions," he said.
All but one region of Victoria faces extreme risk, with total fire bans also declared for numerous regions in South Australia.
The bushfire in the Grampians National Park has been burning for days. (HANDOUT/STATE CONTROL CENTRE)
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said Victorian fires in the Grampians, Bullengarook, the Gurdies and Creswick remain a concern.
The out-of-control blaze in Grampians National Park has been burning for days, scorching more than 55,000 hectares.
"I wouldn't be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses," Mr Nugent told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
Premier Jacinta Allan also delivered a stern message amid the state's worst conditions since the 2019 Black Summer.
"Today's a day of total fire ban across Victoria. Don't be a dickhead. No fires to be lit," she said on social media.
Severe Weather Update Thurs 26 Dec 24: Damaging winds, and extreme and dangerous fires for south-east AUS. — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) Video current: 10:30am AEDT Thursday 26 December 2024. For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/x5IqTjJbXCDecember 26, 2024
Northern Grampians Shire Council mayor Karen Hyslop said 18 aircraft and 300 firefighters including Tasmanian personnel sent to assist had been battling the blaze since early Thursday.
Halls Gap Zoo has begun evacuating animals to Werribee Zoo with sprinklers keeping the remaining ones cool.
Emergency assistance running relief centres, psychological first aid and financial counselling, and evacuations, clean up and road diversions are available for Ararat Rural City Council, Macedon Ranges, Northern Grampians and Southern Grampians Shires.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore feared the expected strong, hot, dry winds could take hold in the Grampians.
Fire authorities are throwing all their resources at multiple blazes in Victoria. (HANDOUT/STATE CONTROL CENTRE)
"Any fire will be uncontrollable and uncontainable in these conditions," he said.
As a cool change washes over Victoria on Thursday night, hot, dry conditions will push into central northeastern NSW, bringing extreme danger on Friday.
Total fire bans have been declared for the Hunter, Greater Sydney, North Western and Northern Slopes regions.