Bushfires out of control in Victoria – DW – 12/21/2024
Bushfires raged across Victoria, Australia, on Saturday, prompting evacuation orders for hundreds of people living in the state’s west at the highest rating.
Authorities have issued an alert for an area near the Grampians National Park, located about 241 kilometers (about 150 miles) from the state capital, Melbourne. Shortly thereafter, the Emergency Services Agency of Victoria upgraded the advisory to “immediately evacuate” and expanded the affected area.
“This is an emergency warning – bushfire – evacuate immediately for Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap,” the agency said online.
“If you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you.”
Officials advised people to ensure they remember their mobile phones, chargers and pets, and to check the websites of local traffic authorities for information on road closures.
the size of the fire increased
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the fire is reported to have tripled in size in a day.
Its size was about 30,000 hectares on Saturday morning, compared to 7,500 hectares on Friday, ABC reported.
The broadcaster said about 400 firefighters were battling the blaze along with more than 100 tankers and 25 aircraft and other heavy machinery.
“The fire has stabilized since the wind has subsided,” Country Fire Authority deputy chief officer Gary Cook told the ABC.
Meanwhile, Christman and the fire are expected to burn weeks later, the broadcaster quoted an incident controller as telling a town hall meeting in the area.
Australian authorities have warned of a high-risk wildfire season this summer.
The country has seen several quiet seasons since the 2019–2020 “Black Summer”, during which inferno killed 33 people and devastated an area roughly the size of Türkiye.
DVV/MSH (Reuters, open source)