Residents in Victoria’s Otways urged to take shelter as bushfire jumps containment lines
Communities in Victoria’s Otways region have been called to action after a fire burning near Gellibrand failed to be brought under control.
An emergency warning was issued on Saturday afternoon due to a bushfire on the Carlisle River that started on January 10.
Residents of towns south of the fire, including Beech Forest, Ferguson, Gellibrand and Wyelangta, were warned it was too late to leave safely and shelter in place.
“This fire threatens homes and lives,” the warning reads.
“You are in danger and you need to take immediate action to survive. The safest option is to take shelter inside immediately. It is too late to go out.”
Emergency services warned around 5.30pm that a change in wind was expected to push the fire towards the north-east.
“This will cause the fire to change direction towards Barongarook. Conditions could become very dangerous and unpredictable,” residents were warned.
Those in the north and east of the fire were asked to leave the area immediately.
More than 30 vehicles are responding to the fire, in which more than 5000 hectares of land burned.
An Emergency Assistance Center has been established at Colac Showgrounds.
The out-of-control bushfire comes as Victoria is hit with extreme heatwave conditions that will be felt between 24 and 30 January.
A total fire ban was declared in the state on Saturday, while fires were banned in the Northern Country, North Central, North East and East Gippsland fire zones on Sunday.
