Christmas celebrations have been abruptly cancelled for hundreds of residents in Victoria's west after a bushfire flared out of control this afternoon. Authorities issued an emergency warning for people living in Moyston and Pomonal as the Grampians fire reignited. The fire’s watch and act warning areas have also been expanded. Authorities are urging Victorians to stay alert, with fears that tomorrow could be even worse due to extreme heat and strong winds forecast for Boxing Day.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Looming danger, leading to a Christmas message no one wanted.
00:07Residents south of Pomona have been issued with a leave immediately warning.
00:12This bushfire emergency comes less than a year since another blaze destroyed 46 homes near the town in Victoria's West.
00:20Anxiety levels between the brigade members and the local community are pretty high.
00:27Crews have battled this fire in the Grampians National Park for a week.
00:31Its steep, dry, dense terrain is making containment a challenge.
00:35A spot fire is a chance to break out anywhere. You just don't know when.
00:40Today conditions worsened. Hundreds of firefighters cancelled festive celebrations.
00:45It means time away from family but this is what we've got to do and so we do it.
00:49I'm not really thinking about Christmas. It's about people are the priority.
00:54Alison has left her own farm to save others.
00:58I've got plenty of anxiety but I've been in it long enough to know that this is just going to happen.
01:06If I'm not around at the farm there's no chance of me saving it.
01:12The biggest concern.
01:14Boxing day.
01:15Boxing day.
01:16Boxing day with those really hot temperatures, those really hot northerly winds
01:20and that westerly change that's coming through will be the concern for fire authorities right across Victoria.
01:26Firefighters near Gisborne north of Melbourne are working around the clock.
01:30You might not see anything coming towards you and you feel comfortable
01:34and you think this is burning away from me and then all of a sudden you'll get this wind change
01:38and that finger will turn into a fire front heading towards you.
01:42Some residents are getting out now just to be safe.
01:45My wife and I are in our 90s. My CFA days are long past.
01:50There are also fears new fires could spark up and stretch resources even further.
01:56Authorities are pleading with Victorians to only travel if it's absolutely essential
02:02and no matter where they are to have a fire plan.
02:06Tomorrow will be a day where every Victorian needs to be ready to take action.