Victoria bushfires LIVE: State faces ‘catastrophic’ conditions; Fires continue to burn at Longwood, Thologolong

Good morning, and thank you for tuning in to our rolling coverage of today’s bushfires and extreme weather.

Here’s the current situation across Victoria.

• People in multiple locations in the north of the state are being urged to leave now as the Longwood fire continues to burn uncontrolled on a catastrophic bushfire day.
• There is a total fire ban for every part of Victoria, and the Wimmera, South West, Northern Country and North Central fire district areas are facing catastrophic fire danger. People are being urged to leave bushfire risk areas, because if a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.
• All national parks in Catastrophic Fire Danger areas will be closed to visitors on Friday – this includes the Grampians, Otways, parts of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers, and many attractions along the Great Ocean Road. This also means the Mountain To Surf race near Lorne will not go ahead.
• V/Line has cancelled all train services on nine train lines as well as extensive coach services ahead of the catastrophic fire danger predicted for Friday. See more here.
• Ambulance Victoria is urging some people to access alternative care services, as it plans to remove its paramedics from areas in high bushfire risk areas. See more here.
• Dozens of firefighters from New South Wales will assist Victorian crews in battling blazes during Friday’s catastrophic conditions.

We’ll bring you live updates throughout the day on the conditions across the state.

Authorities are urging people not to travel today unless absolutely necessary, as the catastrophic and extreme bushfire risks mean emergency services will have their hands full battling blazes and helping those most vulnerable.

Multiple roads around the fires themselves have been closed. Residents in the area are urged to keep up to date.

Surrounding the Longwood fire, the following roads are closed:

• Hume Fwy, between Violet Town and Seymour
• Campbell St and Cliftons Streets, Euroa
• Faithfull Rd and Hume Fwy
• Tarcombe Rd and Hume Fwy
• Maroondah Hwy, between Yea and Maindample

Surrounding the Walwa fire, the following roads are closed:

• Murray Valley Highway between Granya Road and Annandale Road, and Murray Valley Highway between Lucyvale Road and Cudgewa Valley Road (local traffic only)
• Murray Valley Highway between Annandale Road and Lucyvale Road, Shelley Road, Murray River Road between the Granya Road and the Jingellic Road intersections (emergency vehicles only)
• You are still able to leave Corryong and go to Albury/Wodonga via NSW roads, which can be accessed at river crossings in Tintaldra, Towong and Bringenbrong. Do not use the river crossing at Jingellic.

Firefighters battling the fire at Longwood.Credit: Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade

Turning to trains now, and V/Line has announced all train services on nine of its regional lines have been cancelled tomorrow due to the severe weather, with no replacement bus services.

All train services scheduled for the Albury, Ararat, Bendigo, Echuca, Maryborough, Seymour, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool train lines will be cancelled.

All coach services for the Wimmera region that are scheduled to arrive and depart from Ararat and Ballarat stations, along with the Adelaide to Bendigo coach services are also cancelled.

All coach services that pass through the North Central, North Country and South West fire districts – which have a fire danger rating of “catastrophic” on Friday – will not operate for the entire journey including parts of the route not in the affected areas.

Extreme heat timetables will be in place for the Ballarat and Geelong lines.

Residents across Victoria are being urged to stay vigilant today as the catastrophic and extreme bushfire conditions look to worsen already out of control bushfires.

Two major fires, one in the Longwood area and a second burning near Walwa, are still burning.

Here are the latest warnings for the Longwood fire.

LEAVE IMMEDIATELY: Cathkin, Caveat, Ghin Ghin, Highlands, Kanumbra, Killingworth, Koriella, Limestone, Molesworth, Whanregarwen, Yarck, Ancona, Fawcett, Gooram, Merton, Strathbogie, Strathbogie South, Woodfield.

PREPARE TO LEAVE: Acheron, Limestone, Taggerty, Whanregarwen, Yea, Alexandra, Devils River, Fawcett, Lake Eildon, Maintongoon, Barjarg, Bonnie Doon, Creek Junction, Dry Creek, Maindample, Mansfield, Tallangallook, Too-rour.

TAKE SHELTER NOW, as it is too late to leave: Caveat, Creightons Creek, Dropmore, Gobur, Gooram, Highlands, Kanumbra, Kelvin View, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Strathbogie, Tarcombe, Terip Terip, Upton Hill.

WATCH AND ACT: Acheron, Limestone, Taggerty, Whanregarwen, Yea.

Here are the latest warnings for the Walwa fire.

LEAVE IMMEDIATELY: Bungil, Walwa, Cudgewa and surrounds, Koetong, Colac Colac, Nariel Valley and surrounds.

WATCH AND ACT: Biggara, Corryong, Tintaldra, Tom Groggin, Towong, Towong Upper.

STAY INFORMED: Bellbridge, Bethanga, Bullhead Creek, Bullioh, Charleroi, Dartmouth, Ebden, Eskdale, Fairyknowe, Fernvale, Georges Creek, Granite Flat, Huon, Jarvis Creek, Little Snowy Creek, Mitta Mitta, Noorongong, Old Tallangatta, Penny Flat, Sandy Creek, Talgarno, Tallandoon, Tallangatta, Tallangatta East, Tallangatta South, Tallangatta Valley, Tom Groggin, Yabba.