A fast-moving bushfire burning in Victoria’s south-west has placed multiple communities on high alert after escaping containment lines amid extreme heat, gusty winds and parched conditions across the state. Emergency authorities issued urgent warnings on Saturday afternoon as the fire near Carlisle River in the Otways intensified, threatening homes, farms and lives in a region already exhausted by weeks of relentless fire activity.
An Emergency Warning was declared for areas south of the blaze, with residents in Beech Forest, Carlisle River, Charleys Creek, Ferguson, Gellibrand and Wyelangta told it was too late to leave and that they must take shelter immediately.
“This fire is threatening homes and lives. It is too late to leave the area safely, so you must take shelter now,” the warning said, urging people to move to a solid structure, stay inside and monitor official updates.
A second “leave immediately” Emergency Warning was later issued for towns to the east and north-east of the fire, including Barongarook, as a forecast wind change raised fears the blaze could rapidly shift direction and threaten new communities with little notice.
Authorities said the wind change was one of the most dangerous elements of the unfolding emergency. South-westerly winds of around 30 kilometres per hour, gusting to 40km/h, were forecast to continue through the Otways, creating unpredictable fire behaviour.
Incident controller and emergency services spokesperson Mr Nugent said conditions on the fireground were “tricky” and could deteriorate quickly.
“Wind changes are always one of the most dangerous times for firefighters and communities,” he said. “The fire will remain active while these blustery conditions persist.”
Firefighters worked through the afternoon and evening to strengthen containment lines, protect homes and respond to spot fires sparked by wind-driven embers. A significant aerial firefighting effort was underway, including multiple helicopters and a large air tanker dropping water and retardant in an attempt to slow the fire’s spread. Ground crews were deployed to towns including Gellibrand to defend properties and prepare for potential ember attack.
“We’ve got significant numbers of crews out there trying to do their best with this fire at the moment,” Mr Nugent said.
Colac Otway Shire mayor Jason Schram said there were no confirmed reports of houses or major structures lost as of Saturday afternoon, but stressed the situation remained extremely serious.
“I’m praying everyone has a fire plan ready or has found somewhere safe to stay,” he said.
Mr Schram said local authorities were particularly concerned about the area’s terrain and vegetation, which included dense forest with large gum trees, as well as farms and homes located along narrow access roads that can be difficult for firefighting vehicles to reach.
“It’s heavily forested, but there are also lots of properties tucked away off smaller roads,” he said. “That makes protection and access much more challenging.”
Despite the dangers, Mr Schram said he was hopeful that the forecast wind change might spare the town of Gellibrand from the worst of the fire.
“We’re hoping the luck of the gods is with us and it will go around Gellibrand, and then we’ll see where it goes,” he said.
He also paid tribute to the region’s volunteer firefighters, many of whom have been on the fireground for weeks.
“These people have been out there for so long now, giving everything they’ve got,” he said. “The community owes them an enormous debt.”
As the fire burned in the Otways, thick smoke spread far beyond the immediate danger zone, prompting an air quality alert for a wide swathe of the state. Health warnings were issued for the Otways, Geelong, Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island and surrounding areas.
Authorities urged people, particularly those with respiratory conditions, older residents and young children, to stay indoors where possible, close windows and doors, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
The smoke added to the sense of unease on the ground near the fire front. Otway Blueberries owner Lisa Agnew described an “ominous” atmosphere on Saturday afternoon as smoke dimmed the sky near Gellibrand.
“The sun has gone behind the smoke, and it’s turned the ground a strange yellow colour,” she said.
Ms Agnew said her business was about 1.5 kilometres west of Gellibrand and that staff were preparing for the possibility of ember attack.
“We’ve got a firefighting unit ready, and we’ll be moving around putting out any embers,” she said. “If the fire passes over, we’ll take shelter in a cool room, but at this stage we’re just watching very closely.”
She said the emotional toll of facing another major fire so soon after earlier blazes this month was significant.
“We’re feeling a bit over it, to be honest,” she said. “We were hoping it wouldn’t come to this again.”
The Otways blaze is one of several significant fires burning across Victoria as the state endures prolonged heatwave conditions. Major fires are also active near Longwood in central Victoria, Walwa in the north-east, and in Mallacoota and the Wonnangatta Valley in the east.
Watch and Act warnings remain in place for the Walwa and Wonnangatta Valley fires, which are not yet under control. Fire authorities said all of the major fires would come under increasing pressure in the coming days due to heat, dry fuels and variable winds.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said while conditions on Saturday were not as severe as January 9 — when fires burned through about 400,000 hectares — the danger remained high.
“We haven’t got the mix of damaging winds combining with these really hot conditions right across Victoria,” he said. “But that said, we still have extreme to high fire danger across large parts of our state.”
He warned that seven major fires currently burning could become more difficult to manage as the heatwave continues.
Victoria is in the grip of what forecasters say could be the longest-lasting heatwave since 2009. Temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s were recorded across much of the state on Saturday, prompting a total fire ban across all Victorian fire districts.
The Wimmera and South West districts were identified as being at greatest risk, with hot, windy conditions pushing fire danger ratings to extreme. Total fire bans will remain in place on Sunday for the Northern Country, North Central, North East and East Gippsland districts.
Commissioner Wiebusch said the combination of high daytime temperatures and warm overnight conditions — with lows around 20 degrees Celsius in many areas — was placing significant strain on both emergency services and the wider community.
“Those two things combined really put pressure on the human body,” he said.
He urged people to remain hydrated, check on vulnerable neighbours, and seek out cooler public spaces such as libraries or shopping centres if their homes were not well cooled. He also advised caution around waterways, urging people to remain safe if swimming at beaches, lakes or rivers during the extreme heat.
In a sign of the scale and duration of the emergency, Commissioner Wiebusch confirmed that 74 Canadian firefighters would be deployed to Victoria from Thursday next week to assist with ongoing fire suppression efforts.
“That’s a really welcome extra support to bolster our crews and be able to rest some of our people who have been going at it for over three weeks,” he said.
The international assistance comes as the state continues to assess the devastating impact of recent fires. Authorities estimate that more than 1,500 structures have been destroyed across Victoria during the current fire season, including at least 434 homes. More than 35,000 head of livestock are believed to have been killed, dealing a heavy blow to farming communities.
Emergency services continue to urge residents in fire-affected and high-risk areas to stay informed, monitor official warnings and be prepared to act quickly if conditions change.
As the Otways fire burns on under extreme heat and shifting winds, authorities say community vigilance, early action and adherence to warnings will be critical in reducing the risk to life.
“This is not a time for complacency,” Commissioner Wiebusch said. “Fire conditions remain dangerous, and we need everyone to take these warnings seriously.”
