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

Flames continue to burn out of control across Victoria as the weekend bushfire crisis turns deadly.

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

“(On Monday and Tuesday), we’ll see much lighter winds… hopefully that will allow firefighters to try to get the upper hand on some of these fires,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told NewsWire.

“But they will still burn — especially large fires like the Longwood and Alpine fires — that are so big they will burn for weeks anyway, or until we get widespread heavy rainfall.”

Later this week, easterly winds will bring more humidity, cloud cover and humidity to the state. But Mr Narramore said this would not provide much relief to fire-affected areas.

“We may see some rain in Gippsland and perhaps the Melbourne area later this week, but unfortunately most of the fires… are north of the mountains and they won’t see a lot of rain,” he said.

A six-month dry spell helped fuel fires in the state’s north and west.

“The hot weather, especially in inland areas, has caused many areas to dry out,” he told NewsWire.

“The really intense extreme conditions and storms that we saw last week, very hot weather that caused a lot of fires across the state because the vegetation is now quite dry.”

Total fire ban sweeps the state

A complete fire ban has been imposed for the north-eastern and north-central regions of the state.

This means no outdoor fires will be lit or allowed to remain open until midnight on Monday.

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

“Even though conditions are easing, we still need to reduce all the risk we can so we can focus on the fires we already have in these areas,” he said.

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

“This allows us to strike the right balance between mitigation measures against new fires on the landscape and the needs of communities.”

“It’s too late to leave”: Residents warned to take shelter

As multiple fires continued to burn out of control on Monday, residents in the central, eastern and western parts of the state were told to urgently seek shelter.

As the out-of-control bushfire spread rapidly 25km west of Walwa, residents of Bungil, Burrowye, Granya and surrounding areas were ordered to leave the area immediately.

“The current wind direction is south-east to north-north-west,” the Vic Emergency website says.

An urgent warning has been issued to residents of Berringama, Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale, Shelley, Tallangatta Valley and surrounding areas, with citizens ordered to “shelter now” as it is “too late to leave the area safely”.

The SES urged local people in 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 aid center at Wodonga Racing and Exhibition Center Cnr Wilson and Mitchell St in Wodonga.

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

A bushfire is also burning on the Carlisle River, which has broken out of control and is spreading northwest from Pipolein Road towards Bungador.

SES warned, “This fire threatens homes and lives.”

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

The Longwood wildfire that claimed one life Sunday has been downgraded to a watch and take action 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, Yes.

Homes destroyed as Longwood wildfire turns deadly

Terrible bushfires have burned hundreds of hectares in the state’s central region, destroying up to 50 homes and businesses in the process.

A person has been confirmed dead after human remains were found about 100 meters from a car on Yarck Road in Gobur on Sunday afternoon.

Police have not yet officially identified the man and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

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

“My thoughts are with that individual’s family, their community and everyone else as well; this loss is reflected across all fire areas in Victoria,” he said.

“We’ve had a few days where we haven’t had any casualties, so this has hit us hard.

“This is a truly tragic reminder of how dangerous and deadly these fires are.”