An emergency warning has been issues east of an out of control bush fire burning in the Grampians National Park in Victoria. People in the Mafeking and Watgania area are being advised to leave immediately, as the bush fire is travelling in an easterly direction. A watch and act alert remains in place for Jimmy Creek, Bornes Hill, Grampians and Victoria Valley.
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00:00An emergency warning has been issued for the Mafeking and Watganya areas, that is east
00:07of that bushfire that's burning in the Grampians National Park.
00:11People in this area are being told to leave immediately as fire authorities expect the
00:16fire to reach these areas, that's Mafeking and Watganya, within the next hour.
00:22And what else can you tell us about the other areas that the fire is at at the moment?
00:29Yes, so watch and act alert, prepare to leave is still in place for Jimmy Creek, Miranatwa,
00:35Bourns Hill, Grampians, Victoria Valley and Willara.
00:38So this fire has burnt through nearly 8,000 hectares since it was sparked on Monday night
00:43by lightning and fire authorities have struggled to keep it contained.
00:48This is in very dry and often hard to reach areas of the country, so this fire is expected
00:54to require a huge response into the coming weeks.
00:59Jeanne, do you know what the conditions are forecast for this afternoon and indeed into
01:03the coming days?
01:05Yes, so we understand that a south-westerly change is expected in the early afternoon
01:11and that will shift the fire into the north-east, but Grampians residents are told to stay on
01:17high alert for this fire.