‘Too late to leave’: Heatwave eases as deadly bushfires continue ripping through Victoria

Flames are continuing to burn out of control across Victoria, with the bushfire crisis turning deadly over the weekend.

At least 390,000 hectares have been burned as out-of-control bushfires continue to rip through Victoria.

Despite a cold front rupturing the heatwave across the majority of the state, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that bushfires are still an extreme risk as strong easterly winds fuel further flames.

“(On Monday and Tuesday), we’re going to see much lighter winds … so hopefully that allows firefighters to try and get an upper hand on some of those fires,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told NewsWire.

“But they’re still going to burn – especially those large fires the Longwood and the Alpine fire – they’re so large they’re going to burn for weeks anyway, or until we see widespread heavy rainfall.”

Later this week, easterly winds will bring more humidity, cloud cover and moisture to the state. However, Mr Narramore said it wouldn’t offer much relief for the fire-affected areas.

“We could see some rain through Gippsland ... later this week and maybe through the Melbourne area, but unfortunately, most of the fires are … north of the ranges and they are not going to see much rainfall,” he said.

A dry six-month period has helped fuel the fires across the state’s north and west.

“Combined with the hotter weather as well – particularly through inland areas – has allowed a lot of areas to dry out,” he told NewsWire.

“The really intense extreme conditions we saw last week and the thunderstorms, the very hot air started a lot fires around the state because the vegetation is quite dry now.”

Total fire ban sweeps state

A total fire ban has been put in place for the north east and north central regions of the state.

This means no fire can be lit in the open air or is allowed to remain alight until midnight Monday.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said light winds could make the flames burn longer, and urged residents to follow the rules to avoid further catastrophe.

“Despite conditions easing we still need to mitigate all the risk we can so our focus can stay on the fires we already have in these districts,” he said.

“I appreciate that a (total fire ban) can have an impact on communities and business but be assured these restrictions are reviewed daily.

“This ensures we get the right balance between mitigation against new fires in the landscape and the needs of communities.”

‘Too late to leave’: Residents warned to seek shelter

Several fires remain burning out-of-control on Monday, with residents in the state’s central, east and west told to urgently seek shelter.

Residents in Bungil, Burrowye, Granya and surrounding areas have been ordered to leave immediately as an out-of-control bushfire rapidly spreads 25km west of Walwa.

“Current wind direction is from the southeast towards north-north west,” the Vic Emergency website reads.

An emergency warning has been issued for residents in Berringama, Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale, Shelley, Tallangatta Valley and the surrounds, who have been ordered to “take shelter now” as it is “too late to leave the area safely”.

The SES have urged locals from Biggara, Colac Colac, Corryong, Cudgewa, Nariel Valley, Thowgla Valley, Towong, Walwa to continue seeking shelter as it is “not safe to return”.

Residents can visit the relief centre at the Wodonga Racing and Exhibition Centre Cnr Wilson and Mitchell St in Wodonga.

For those who are unable to leave the area, the SES said: “Stay where you are and avoid dangerous bushfire and tree hazards”.

A bushfire is also burning at Carlisle River, which is out of control and spreading from Pipolein Rd in a north-westerly direction towards Bungador.

“This fire is threatening homes and lives,” the SES warned.

“It is too late to leave the area safely so you must take shelter now.”

The bushfire in Longwood, which claimed the life of a person on Sunday, has been downgraded to a watch and act warning.

Areas affected include Acheron, Alexandra, Cathkin, Caveat, Creightons Creek, Devils River, Dropmore, Eildon, Fawcett, Ghin Ghin, Gobur, Gooram, Highlands, Kanumbra, Karralika Heights, Kelvin View, Killingworth, Koriella, Lake Eildon, Limestone, Longwood, Longwood East, Maindample, Molesworth, Old Longwood, Ruffy, Snobs Creek, Tarcombe, Taylor Bay, Terip Terip, Thornton, Upton Hill, Whanregarwen, Yarck, Yea.

Houses destroyed as Longwood bushfire turns deadly

The horrific bushfires have torn through hundreds of hectares in the state’s central region, destroying up to 50 homes and businesses in the process.

One person has been confirmed dead after human remains were located about 100m from a car on Yarck Rd at Gobur on Sunday afternoon.

Police are yet to formally identify the person and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Speaking to ABC Radio on Monday, premier Jacinta Allan said the person’s death was a “tragedy”.

“My thoughts are with the person’s family, their community and also everyone – this loss reverberates across all of the fire grounds across Victoria,” she said.

“We’d gone through a number of days when we hadn’t seen a loss of life so this does hit hard.

“It is another really tragic reminder of just how dangerous and deadly these fire are.”