Victorians under threat from a huge out-of-control bushfire have been told it is too late to leave as authorities plead for people to take shelter or risk death.
The fire at Longwood, about 150km north of Melbourne, has been raging at emergency level since Wednesday night and is showing no signs of easing as temperatures and winds ramp up.
Authorities have warned conditions in the area will be “catastrophic” on Friday, with reports the state is facing its worst fire threat since the Black Summer fires in 2019 and 2020.
A take shelter warning is in place for those closest to the blaze in: Caveat, Creightons Creek, Dropmore, Gobur, Gooram, Highlands, Kanumbra, Kelvin View, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Strathbogie, Tarcombe, Terip Terip, Upton Hill
“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,” the warning reads.
“The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.”
People south and west of the fire have been told to leave immediately if they have not already done so.
Residents in the following towns have been told to flee: Cathkin, Caveat, Ghin Ghin, Highlands, Kanumbra, Killingworth, Koriella, Limestone, Molesworth, Whanregarwen, Yarck, Ancona, Fawcett, Gooram, Merton, Strathbogie, Strathbogie South, and Woodfield.
“Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the warning reads.
“Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”
Emergency relief centres are open at the Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre and the Mansfield Youth Centre.
The following roads are closed:
- Hume Freeway between Violet Town and Seymour
- Campbell Street and Cliftons Streets, Euroa
- Faithfull Road and Hume Freeway
- Tarcombe Road and Hume Freeway
- Maroondah Highway between Yea and Maindample
Vic Emergency is warning the fire behaviour is expected to increase during the day, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning temperatures could reach 43C with damaging winds that could spread the flames.
Catastrophic fire danger warnings are in place across North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera while extreme warnings are in place for Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North East and West and South Gippsland.
“That includes the outer Melbourne area and that’s been created by the heatwave conditions,” Bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
“We’ve got maximum temperatures across the Melbourne suburbs of 43 to 45 degrees, but widespread 45 to high 40s across both Victoria and south eastern parts of South Australia.”
Firefighters have been working overnight to try to contain the blaze, which is burning across thousands of hectares.
