‘That fire will run’: Dozens of towns evacuated as Otways fire grows

An erratic and extreme bushfire burning out of control in the Otway Ranges has claimed at least three homes and will threaten many more after it built force following Tuesday afternoon’s cool change.

The blaze raged on a day when Victoria’s all-time highest temperature was recorded, tens of thousands were hit by power outages and scorching heat forced the suspension of outdoor matches at the Australian Open.

Dozens of towns – including Gellibrand, Forrest, Mount Sabine and surrounding areas – were ordered to evacuate the area immediately on Tuesday afternoon and evening, while communities along the Great Ocean Road and the Otways were urged to stay on high alert.

Authorities warned they could not guarantee the safety of anyone who stayed behind to try to defend their property from fires.

After being threatened by fires in early January and devastated by flash flooding a fortnight ago, Wye River and 58 other towns in the region between Aireys Inlet to the east and Kennedys Creek to the west were placed under watch and act alerts.

Strong south, south-westerly winds of 70km/h fuelled the change on Tuesday afternoon, opening up a fresh flank of fires and sending flames racing east, before “running hard” in a north-westerly direction on Tuesday night, said Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman.

He said more than 10,000 hectares had been burnt by 3pm, but authorities knew many more would go up in flames.

“That fire will run,” he said. “It will develop a plume. It will pick up really significant energy, and we will see erratic and extreme fire behaviour.”

On Tuesday evening, he told Nine News that winds could get even stronger overnight.

“We’re looking at the winds over Bass Strait at the moment. They will move to the fire ground in the not too distant future,” he said.

Of the blazes burning out of control across the state, bushfires in the Otway Ranges – known as the Carlisle River fires complex – were the most dangerous, Hardman said.

In the small Otways town of Gellibrand – usually a haven for tourists, with signs for quaint cafes, a public piano abutting the footpath and a blue mosaic seat to take it all in – the mood was tense.

On Tuesday, the air was cut with the sound of chainsaws, as choppers thumped overhead to ferry water to the fire front only a kilometre down the road, while a few firefighters lay in the shade, seeking relief from the heat.

Nearly everyone in town, and the small towns surrounding it, had heeded the evacuation warnings and fled on Saturday and Sunday. Only a few held on.

In the centre of town stands the Gellibrand River General Store, clad in yellow weatherboard and red tin. The owner, Cherry Smith, has been there only a month, but already understands the importance of the store to the small town. That’s why she and her family stayed.

“We just feel like it’s really important to defend the building,” she said. “Being a bit of a hub of the community, we sort of feel we can help.”

Throughout the day, she served drinks and food and filled firefighters’ pockets with bags of sweets.

“I think it will get quite scary if something does turn this way,” she said. “But if we stay, I think we’ll be OK.”

Gellibrand is surrounded by thick stringybark scrub. When the trees burn, their fine paper-like bark peels away and ferries embers through the air.

Firefighters managed to successfully hold the south and east flanks of the fire – fearing the blaze would burn south under a morning breeze, turn east with a wind change and race away – but were constantly scrambling to put out spot fires far from containment lines.

Closer to the fire front, Wayne Clissold and his family had decided to stay and defend. A lawn sprinkler had been mounted on the roof, periodically wetting down the tiles, while out the back a large inflatable pool was being used to hold off the heat.

“We’ve checked all the weather details,” said Clissold. “Wind speeds aren’t meant to get too high. We’ve got a 10,000-litre tank out the back with a firefighting pump.”

His next-door neighbour – who evacuated – had given the family permission to tap his tank. Their cars were filled with possessions, the doors open, ready to flee in if the situation worsened. “We’re aware there’s no guarantee the firefighters will come and help us,” said Clissold.

Elsewhere, authorities issued watch and act alerts for dozens of communities west of Dargo, whose homes and lives were at risk amid rapidly changing conditions in the bushfire racing along the eastern flank of the Alpine National Park.

Near the NSW border, the Walwa-Mount Lawson fire had burnt through 121,400 hectares by Tuesday, while the Carlisle River fire had burnt 10,400 hectares – doubling in size since Saturday.

The Longwood fire, which is now contained, burnt 133,600 hectares.

In total, 430,000 hectares have now burnt across Victoria – nearing the estimated 450,000 hectares burnt during Black Saturday.

Authorities issued a total fire ban for the Wimmera and North East regions for Wednesday.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said that despite the cool change, conditions would make it difficult to suppress new fire outbreaks and challenge firefighters already working on containing existing fires.

“Even in areas not under total fire ban, we are urging people to reconsider the need for things that have the potential to start fires.”

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said the next four days would be extremely difficult for fire crews and communities in the north of the state, and warned fire tourists to stay away.

“A state of disaster is still in place for 18 municipalities across our state, and in particular those areas where fire warnings are now in place,” he said.

“We can’t emphasise enough that we do not need people that don’t belong in those areas being in those areas. Please do not attempt to go around traffic management points, and please make sure you are staying attuned to the emergency broadcasters and our Vic emergency app for the latest information and warnings.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.