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LANCEFIELD FIRE UPDATE 10.50pm: The CFA has issued the following warning:
This is an Emergency Warning issued by Country Fire Authority for Benloch, Nulla Vale, Pastoria East.
There is a fast moving, out of control bushfire travelling in a northerly direction from Burke & Wills Track towards Benloch.
Spotfires and Ember Attack has been reported in Benloch.
The fire is currently impacting or about to impact the following roads:
Westcott Lane, Showlers Road, Feeneys Lane, Jackies Lane, Mitchells Road, Long Ryans Road, Burke & Wills Track, Sid Smith Lane, Frosts Road, Youngs Road, Kitchenhans Road and Malones Road.
You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.
It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.
The wind change passed through the area some time ago. The fire is now heading towards Benloch, Nulla Vale and Pastoria East.
The fire is approximately 2500 hectares in size.
The major roads in the area remain closed and will not be reopened until an assessment has been conducted.
Note: Three Chain Road between Mooneys Lane & Baynton Road due to falling trees.
The next update is expected by 07/10/15 1:00 AM or as the situation changes.
LANCEFIELD FIRE UPDATE 10.10pm: The CFA has issued the following advice:
The fire activity in the 6 KM NW LANCEFIELD area south of Three Chain Road has subsided due to the wind change however the fire is currently not yet under control. The fire is approximately 2500 hectares in size.
Smoke will be visible from nearby communities and roads.
A relief centre has been set up at the Gisborne Community Centre in Hamilton Street, Gisborne.
The next update is expected by 07/10/15 10:00 AM or as the situation changes.
Safety Information:
Review your bushfire survival plan.
If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes.
If you have time check your neighbours to see if they are monitoring conditions.
If you are experiencing smoke exposure, seek medical advice or call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.
A wind change has passed through the area which has pushed the fire in a north easterly direction towards Benloch and Nulla Vale.
A number of road closures are in place, these include:
Burke & Wills Track and Lancefield - Tooboorac Road
Three Chain Road and Baynton Road
Three Chain Road & Whitebridge Road
Lancefield - Tooboorac & Emu Flat - Baynton Road
Burke & Wills Track & Darlington Road
Stay Informed:
Via www.emergency.vic.gov.au
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV.
Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
For help with English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to telephone VBIL. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.
Download the FireReady App or follow CFA_Updates on Twitter (#VicFires) or Facebook.
Road closures: check VicRoads website.
UPDATE 9.01pm: CFA fire crews are responding to a small grass fire at Mount Ida Lane in Heathcote.
The CFA stresses that there is no threat to communities, however, smoke will be visible in Heathcote and surrounding areas.
Residents are advised to review their bushfire survival plan or in the absence of a plan decide on a strategy should the situation change.
Anyone experiencing smoke exposure is encouraged to seek medical advice, or call the Nurse on Call service on 1300 606 024.
LANCEFIELD FIRE LATEST:
One house has been lost in the Lancefield fire which the CFA has confirmed is now approximately 2500 hectares in size.
Spotfires and ember attacks have been reported in Benloch.
The CFA has issued the following warning for Benloch and Nulla Vale:
This is an Emergency Warning issued by Country Fire Authority for residents accessing property on Burke & Wills Track.
There is a fast moving, out of control bushfire travelling in a north easterly direction from Nudist Camp Road towards Benloch and Nulla Vale.
The wind change passed through the area some time ago. The fire is now heading towards Benloch & Nulla Vale.
Residents accessing property from Burke & Wills Track between Lancefield- Toobrurac Road & Baynton Road are advised to seek shelter.
The fire is currently impacting houses on Ashworths Road, Musk Gully Road, Whalans Track, Greenways Road, Westcott Lane, Showlers Road, Feeneys Lane, Jackies Lane, Mitchells Road, Long Ryans Road, Burke & Wills Track, Sid Smith Lane, Frosts Road, Youngs Road and Kitchenhans Road.
Spotfires and Ember Attacks have been reported at Westcott Lane & Showlers Road.
The fire is expected to impact the following roads:
Westcott Lane, Showlers Road, Feeneys Lane, Jackies Lane, Mitchells Road, Long Ryans Road, Burke & Wills Track, Sid Smith Lane.
The major roads in the area remain closed.
You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.
It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.
The fire activity in the 6 KM NW LANCEFIELD area south of Three Chain Road has subsided due to the wind change however the fire is currently not yet under control.
A relief centre has been set up at the Gisborne Community Centre in Hamilton Street, Gisborne.
The next update is expected by 06/10/15 10:00 PM or as the situation changes.
A watch and act message has been issued for Baynton, Baynton East, Emu Flat.
Safety Information
When indoors:
Close all exterior doors, windows and vents and turn off cooling systems.
Shelter in a room that has a door and or a window to the outside - It is critical to keep an eye on what is happening with the fire.
If you cannot get indoors, other last resort options include:
A large open area like a ploughed paddock, football oval or sporting reserve.
A large body of water like a dam, lake, river, the ocean or inground pool.
Try to protect yourself from the fire's heat.
In the car:
Park behind a solid structure to block the fire's heat or pull over to a cleared area.
Try to position the car towards the approaching fire.
Put on your hazard lights and headlights.
Turn the engine off, close all windows and ensure that car air vents are closed.
Get down as low as possible below window level and cover up with a woolen blanket.
If you are travelling, do not enter the area, U-turn to safety.
If you are away from home, do not return.
For life or property threatening emergencies call 000
If you need medical advice for burns or smoke exposure call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024
Stay Informed:
Via www.emergency.vic.gov.au
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV
Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
For help with English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to telephone VBIL. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA_Updates on Twitter (#VicFires) or Facebook.
Road Closures: check VicRoads Website.
**** REFRESH YOUR BROWSER FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ****
UPDATE 4pm: A tree has fallen across power lines on Hasker Street, Golden Square. The SES has been called out to at least 22 incidents after strong winds swept across the Bendigo region this afternoon.
UPDATE 3.50pm:
Strong winds and high temperatures kept crowds away from the Elmore Field Days on Tuesday.
The mercury hit 36 degrees in the afternoon with some farmers electing to stay home on the extreme fire day.
Event president Frank Harney said a cool change on Wednesday would see people return to the field days.
"Naturally the weather has had an effect," he said. "Numbers have definitely been down a bit but really why would you come out today in the heat and the wind when you could come tomorrow when it's cooler?"
The temperature in Elmore is forecast to reach a top of just 22 degrees on Wednesday.
Several exhibitors chose to shut up shop early.
However Mr Harney said he believed things would improve in the final two days of the event.
"We're quite confident we will have the usual crowds spread across the whole thing," he said.
Despite less than ideal conditions, he said the weather hadn't dampened enthusiasm.
"We've had a number of exhibitors tell us they've had really strong, genuine inquiry. They're rapt," he said.
UPDATE 5.35pm: The Bendigo SES has so far responded to 26 call outs this afternoon, most of which have been in relation to fallen trees and branches.
Eight of the reports related to building damage including parts of roofs becoming detached.
Spokeswoman Natalie Stanway said crews were still responding to incidents across the city.
“I believe there was a trampoline that left the owner’s property and ended up elsewhere,” she said.
UPDATE 2.55pm: The City of Greater Bendigo has closed the Eaglehawk tip because of high winds.
FIRES:
4.30pm Lancefield:
More than 190 properties are now under threat from the fire.
Emergency services commissioner Craig Lapsley said the blaze was started after a controlled burn jumped containment lines last week.
“DEWLP and CFA crews worked hard Saturday afternoon and Sunday and believed they had it controlled, believed they had it in a space that it wouldn’t cause any more grief,” he said.
“However with this afternoon with the strong winds and the extreme temperatures that are out there we’ve seen this fire now move again.”
Mr Lapsley said an air tanker was now en route from Sydney to help battle the fires and would likely arrive within the hour.
“That will take an hour to fly from Sydney to be able to put retardant on the eastern side of that fire to try and make sure there’s a control line in before the wind change comes,” he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was hopeful of significant developments within the next couple of hours, but warned the fire season had now begun in earnest.
"The message today is a very clear one, the 15-16 fire season is here now, it is absolutely on us and we need to understand that this is going to be a long, hot, dry and dangerous summer," he said.
"We have got a much earlier fire season, it's going to be a very, very challenging three or four months for us."
EARLIER:
The CFA has now issued a separate emergency warning for Benlock and Nulla Vale.
The forecast wind change has taken effect and the fire is now heading north-east towards the two towns.
The warning applies to residents accessing property from the Burke and Wills Track between the Lancefield- Toobrurac Road and Baynton Road.
Ember attack is also impacting houses on Ashworth Road.
The CFA has issued an updated emergency warning for Cobaw, Benloch, Lancefield and Nulla Vale.
A CFA spokeswoman said the fire was currently still heading towards Lancefield but was expected to move towards Benloch and Nulla Vale following a wind change at approximately 4pm.
The ABC has reported the fire is now as large as 600 hectares in size.
Police have set up traffic management points at the intersections of Three Chain Road and McMasters Lane; Three Chain Road and Bolgers Lane; and the Lancefield-Tooborak Road and the Burke and Wills Track.
"The bushfire is out of control and firefighters have been unable to stop the spread of the fire, which is moving fast towards Lancefield,” the spokeswoman said.
"It is really important that people sort out what they are doing as they are in real danger.”
The warning reads:
The Cobaw bushfire is currently out of control.
Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire and it has now crossed Three Chain Road and is moving fast towards Lancefield.
It is travelling in a south-easterly direction from Nudist Camp Track towards Maloneys Road and Lancefield.
Spot fires and ember attack are starting up to 2.5km ahead of the main fire.
You are now in immediate danger, act now to protect yourself. Emergency Services may not be able to help you.
Safety Information
When indoors:
- Close all exterior doors, windows and vents and turn off cooling systems.
- Shelter in a room that has a door and or a window to the outside. - It is critical to keep an eye on what is happening with the fire.
If you cannot get indoors, other last resort options include:
- A large open area like a ploughed paddock, football oval or sporting reserve.
- A large body of water like a dam, lake, river, the ocean or inground pool.
- Try to protect yourself from the fire's heat.
In the car:
- Park behind a solid structure to block the fire's heat or pull over to a cleared area.
- Put on your hazard lights and headlights.
- Turn the engine off, close all windows and ensure that car air vents are closed.
- Get down as low as possible below window level and cover up with a woollen blanket.
If you are travelling, do not enter the area, U-turn to safety.
If you are away from home, do not return.
For life or property threatening emergencies call 000.
If you need medical advice for burns or smoke exposure call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.
Stay Informed:
- Via www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
- Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667.
- Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
- For help with English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to telephone VBIL. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.
- Download the FireReady App and follow CFA_Updates on Twitter (#VicFires) or Facebook.
- Road Closures: check VicRoads website.
4pm Marong: An all clear message has been issued by Country Fire Authority for Marong, Maiden Gully. Fire activity in the MARONG area has subsided. The bushfire is now safe however smoke may still be visible from nearby communities and roads. To stay up to date with road closures check the VicRoads website. This will be the last advice issued for this fire.
POWER OUTAGES:
UPDATE 5.40pm: A Powercor spokesman said while scattered outages remained in parts of the city, power had been restored to most of the affected properties by about 3pm.
“We started re-energising within an hour after it went off and got everybody back at around 3 o’clock,” he said.
1.50pm: Powercor estimates it will have power restored to 1450 premises across Bendigo by 2pm.
The company has been working on fixing three faults impacting on residents and traffic lights since lunch time.
The faults are at Mackenzie Street, Bendigo, Houlahan Street, Kennington, and Sparrowhawk Road, Long Gully.
Customers affected include:
- Long Gully 901
- Bendigo 1
- Ironbark 316
- West Bendigo 40
- North Bendigo 37
- Flora Hill 62
- Kennington 61
- Long Gully 20
- West Bendigo 12
- Golden Square 2437
- California Gully 322
TRAFFIC LIGHTS DOWN:
2.30pm: The traffic lights at the intersection of the Calder Highway and Eaglehawk Road are the last remaining lights yet to be switched back on.
Up to six sets of lights near the Bendigo CBD were out after strong winds caused power outages across the region.
Three sets of lights on Barnard Street - the intersections of Don, Wattle and View streets - were all out at one stage.
The traffic lights at the fountain on Pall Mall were also out.
WEATHER:
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds for people in the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts.
Winds of 50-60km/h with damaging peak gusts of 90-100km/h are forecast for parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West, Central, West and South and East Gippsland forecast districts and elevated parts of the North East forecast district. Over Alpine parts of the state wind speeds of 60-80km/h are possible with peak gusts of 115km/h.
Hot, dry and very windy conditions are forecast today ahead of an approaching cold front. The cold front will enter the south west this morning then extend across the remainder of the state during the afternoon and evening bringing a cooler and gusty southwesterly change.
FIRE DANGER:
Today has been declared a day of total fire ban in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central districts of Victoria. No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 12.01am to 11.59pm. Read more here.
Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for Mallee and North Central.
Severe Fire Danger is forecast for South West and Central.
The CFA advises that you:
- Monitor the weather at www.bom.gov.au and the fire situation at www.cfa.vic.gov.au, or through your emergency broadcasters: ABC and commercial radio stations and SKY News TV.
- Call '000' if you see flames.
- Check your bushfire survival plan now.
- For more information on fire danger ratings and actions refer to www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
- Prepare. Act. Survive.