Too late to leave fire zone in catastrophic conditions

Kaitlyn Offer | February 13, 2024

People near a fire raging out of control in catastrophic conditions in Victoria’s west need to seek shelter as it is too late to leave.

The emergency warning for the fire in the Grampians National Park burning at Bellfield, Lake Fyans and Pomonol was updated at 3.15pm Tuesday, telling people to stay in place after an earlier evacuation order.

“The best advice for residents in those areas is to take shelter in your and to prepare yourself for ember and any potential fire impact” Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan told reporters on Tuesday.

“If you are in the open or in a position where you cannot seek shelter you are to immediately to try and make your way to a fire place of last resort.”

The Bellfield blaze is travelling in a southerly direction towards Pomonal.

People near a second fire in the north of the same national park are also being warned to leave.

The fires are believed to have been sparked by dry lightning with firefighters battling multiple other fires across the state.