Emergency Warnings Issued as Bushfires Rage Across Victoria

MELBOURNE : Fire authorities have issued a dire “too late to leave” warning for residents in Victoria’s northeast as multiple out-of-control bushfires threaten lives and properties.

An Emergency Warning is currently in place for Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Tarcombe, and Upton Hill. A fast-moving grassfire is traveling southeast from Oak Valley Road, forcing authorities to advise residents north of Maggies Lane and Mount Monica to take immediate shelter.

Residents around the Longwood area were urged to take immediate shelter.

“The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave,” VicEmergency warned this afternoon. For those south of the line in Caveat and Dropmore, an immediate evacuation order remains in effect, with residents urged to head toward Terip Terip.

Residents near Moyreisk were told to evacuate as crews worked to bring a blaze on Sunraysia Highway under control.

On the NSW border, more than 300 firefighters and 12 waterbombing aircraft are battling a 1,200-hectare blaze near Walwa. The fire has shifted path and is currently tearing through Mt Lawson State Park toward Bungil.

Residents in Bungil, Granya, and Thologolong have been told to evacuate immediately along Murray River Road toward Wodonga. CFA incident controller Aaron Kennedy confirmed that while backburning has been successful, a caravan has already been lost to the flames.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan warned conditions on Friday will be extreme throughout Victoria.

Yea Recreational Centre, Snodgrass Street, Yea.

Murray River Road (Granya Gap to Guys Forest Rd), Longwood Ruffy Road, and sections of the Hume Freeway.

Victorians flocked to pools and beaches across the state in a bid to cool off.

While a grassfire at Moyreisk has been brought under control, the Sunraysia Highway remains closed between Maryborough and St Arnaud.