Towns in Victoria’s south-west face a nervous wait overnight Saturday into Sunday as several bushfires continue to burn out of control, even as a coming cool change is expected to bring wild winds and heavy rainfall across the state.
Residents were still being urged to flee in towns near the South Australian border on Saturday night, where a fire had engulfed a blue gum plantation in Kadnook and was bearing down on Chetwynd and Connewirricoo.
Another blaze was burning towards the coast near the Otways, with spot fires and embers threatening the Great Ocean Road. But a fire in the region near Gellibrand, Kawarren was brought under control on Saturday afternoon, as was a bushfire in the state’s west near Dereel barrelling towards towns near Ballarat.
A total fire ban will remain in force for the Wimmera region on Sunday, but temperatures will ease from a high of 37 degrees in some parts of the state on Saturday.
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said strong winds could exacerbate the fires in far western Victoria that are not yet under control.
By Saturday evening, the bushfire that sparked up in the Kadnook plantation had crossed the Glenelg River, and a south-westerly cool change sweeping through overnight was expected to deliver winds of up to 30 kilometres an hour. An emergency relief centre had been set up at Edenhope Community Centre and those in Chetwynd, Connewirricoo and Kadnook were urged to evacuate with their pets, phones and medication.
The blaze in the Otways near Gellibrand in south-west Victoria on Saturday.Credit: Nine
Further south, smoke rose above the scenic Great Ocean Road as an out-of-control fire burns south to the coast from Chapple Vale to the Great Ocean Walk, and those in Crowes, Lavers Hill, Yuulongand Wattle Hill were urged to leave.
Meanwhile, in Victoria’s north-east, the Bureau of Meteorology was warning of damaging winds and rainfall early Sunday.