Updated
Fire authorities have issued emergency warnings for two separate bushfires threatening homes and lives at a housing estate south-east of Melbourne and in the Latrobe Valley.
Key points:
- Two separate bushfires are threatening homes and lives east of Melbourne
- Adams Estate residents were urged to leave their homes and head to Grantville
- In the Latrobe Valley, a bushfire is moving west towards homes at Tanjil South
The bushfire south-east of Melbourne started in the Grantville Nature Reserve, which is just south of a number of homes at Adams Estate near Grantville.
An emergency warning issued by Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) at 6:20pm (AEDT) said the fire could impact the housing estate any time within the next 90 minutes.
The bushfire was burning at June Street, which is at the southern edge of the housing estate.
The warning said firefighters had been unable to stop the northerly spread of the fire due to inaccessible bushland.
“Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the warning said.
“Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”
Forest Fire Management Victoria’s Andrew Graystone said shortly after 5:00pm that nine aircraft were supporting firefighters to tackle the blaze.
“The fire is burning in coastal gum communities so it’s very flammable, very dry, and there’s quite a stiff wind meaning that the fire is burning very hot,” Mr Graystone said.
“The fire is about 300 metres south-west of the Adams Estate and is moving quite quickly towards that estate.”
He said authorities were hoping to contain the blaze once it left the reserve.
“Once the fire does move out of the bush reserve it’s burning in, it comes into more rural properties and we’re hopeful that we’ve got a better chance of containing it once it comes out,” he said.
The warning was issued for people in Adams Estate, Almurta, Glen Forbes and Grantville.
The Adams Estate, which is in the Bass Coast region near Phillip Island, has been closed to returning residents, as has McGrady Road.
Residents are being told to head to the Grantville Information Centre at 1504 Bass Highway.
Separate emergency warning in Latrobe Valley
An emergency warning was also issued at 4:13pm for a bushfire threatening homes and lives at Tanjil South in Gippsland.
The bushfire started in Moondarra State Park and was travelling in an westerly direction towards Moe-Walhalla Road, the warning said.
“This fire is threatening homes and lives along the Moe-Walhalla Road,” it said.
“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
“The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.”
Mr Greystone said shortly after 5:00pm that firefighters were “very concerned” about the 33-hectare bushfire due to strong easterly winds.
“[It’s] only about 300 metres from the Moe-Walhalla Road … there are a number of properties along that road that could be impacted by this fire,” he said.
“The fire is burning very close to high-voltage transmission lines and that’s moving very quickly in a westerly direction towards that road.”
He said those with properties along Moe-Walhalla Road in the path of the fire needed to stay inside because it was too late to leave.
“There’s a high risk if people get out onto the roads, both from smoke and visibility, but also from other emergency services vehicles that may be in the area as well.”
A watch and act warning was also issued for Trafalgar East, Moe, Newborough and Westbury.
Topics:
First posted
from Trend Gossip Now http://bit.ly/2SijrY4
0 Comments