Australia: A large bushfire in southeastern Australia is expected to burn for weeks, forcing residents from several towns to evacuate. Thousands of people in six towns around the Grampians National Park, located about 230 kilometers west of Melbourne in Victoria, were ordered to leave on Friday and Saturday as the fire, which began from a lightning strike on Monday, continued to threaten lives and property. The fire, which grew three times its size from Friday to Saturday due to high temperatures and strong winds, has already scorched more than 34,000 hectares of land by Sunday morning. Over 300 firefighters and aircraft have been deployed to slow its spread.
At meetings held on Saturday, officials informed residents that the fire is expected to burn for several weeks. Garry Cook, Deputy Chief Officer of the Country Fire Authority, mentioned that favorable conditions on Saturday night helped extend control lines on the fire’s northern edge, but warned that strong winds predicted for Sunday would make it harder to contain. Cook highlighted that there was still a lot of unburnt fuel in the Grampians, making the situation challenging.
Temperatures in Victoria are forecasted to exceed 30 degrees Celsius from Christmas Day to Friday, increasing the fire risk. The National Council for Fire and Emergency Services had already identified the southwest of Victoria, including the Grampians, as an area with a heightened risk of bushfires this summer due to dry conditions in winter and spring. Cook further stated that the region remains very dry and that communities would likely face ongoing fire threats throughout the rest of the summer.