Grampians Communities Threatened by Bushfires and Storms, Catastrophic Fire Rating Issued for Victoria

Emergency warnings have been issued over fires burning in and near the Grampians National Park, with some communities told to take shelter, as a cool change brought respite to scorching temperatures in Melbourne.

Two alerts were issued to communities near the Grampians National Park in Victoria‘s west on Tuesday afternoon due to two separate fires that were yet to be brought under control.

One warning, warned that a bushfire near Bellfield was not yet under control and traveling in an eastward direction towards the Pomonal township.

Another warning warned those in Dadswells Bridge, Ledcourt, and Roses Gap that another fire in the park, near Mt Stapylton, was also out of control.

Thunderstorms hit parts of Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon, with residents in the north-west and south-east reporting large hailstones.

A catastrophic fire rating had been issued for the Wimmera for Tuesday – the state’s worst day for bushfire risk since the black summer of 2019-20. An extreme fire danger was forecast for the Mallee, Northern Country, and Central districts, which includes Melbourne. A total fire ban is in place for much of the state.

A “watch and act” alert was also issued for parts of Melbourne, which included Croydon, Scoresby, Lilydale, as well as Poowong, Mt Dandenong, and Pakenham.

About 38 schools and 17 early childhood centers have shut across the state and the Country Fire Authority’s chief officer, Jason Heffernan, said firefighters were prepared for “nasty conditions”.

The emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugent, said Tuesday’s weather forecast, with some areas predicted to reach 40C, would be challenging. Tasmanians were also being urged to prepare for an increased fire danger over the coming days.

The Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer, Matt Lowe, said current weather conditions combined with a dry landscape meant fires could spread easily and become difficult to control.

South Australians were also bracing for a hot and dry Tuesday. Total fire bans had been declared, with extreme fire danger ratings for Mid North, Riverland, and Murraylands.

The Bureau of Meteorology had also issued a heatwave warning for parts of Victoria, with conditions expected to ease with a cooler change from late Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning. A severe heatwave warning was also in place for parts of Western Australia including the Kimberley, Gascoyne, Central West, and Great Southern districts.