<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335847</docID> <postdate>2024-12-25 18:03:16</postdate> <headline>Evacuation order as bushfire threat looms for two towns</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-335848" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/bushfire-e1735085779684.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" /></p> <caption>Authorities are on high alert as hot and windy conditions pose extreme fire threats in three states. Photo: CFA</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>William Ton</strong> and <strong>Adrian Black</strong> in Melbourne</span></p> <div class="wire-column__preview__text" id="preview-body"> <p><strong>Two communities are being told to evacuate immediately as an out-of-control bushfire rages towards them, with worsening weather conditions yet to come. </strong></p> <p>People in Moyston and Pomonal in the Grampians in Victoria's west should immediately leave the area.</p> <p>Authorities on Wednesday issued an emergency warning as a bushfire races towards Redman and Long Gully roads in the national park.</p> <div class="embed-block"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered">"Private property adjoining the National Park could be impacted in the next two hours, south of the Pomonal 2024 fire area," the alert said.</div> </div> <p>"Leaving immediately is the safest option before conditions become too dangerous.</p> <p>"Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay."</p> <p>The blaze has burned more than 40,000ha and it remains unsafe for people to return to Bellfield, Halls Gap and surrounding areas.</p> <p>As many Australians enjoy the official start of the holiday period, firefighters are working to contain blazes in almost every jurisdiction.</p> <p>A smoke warning has been issued due to a grassfire in Smithfield to Adelaide's north, as temperatures in the South Australian capital push towards 36C.</p> <p>Total fire bans are in place for the Mount Lofty Ranges and west coast region.</p> <p>Multiple fires are burning east of Perth and in northwest and southwest WA, and emergency services have warned people to avoid the Laverton area and watch conditions in Bornholm in Albany.</p> <p>Fire services are working to control minor blazes and scrub fires in the NT, NSW and in Sprent, southwest of Tasmania's Davenport.</p> <p>Firefighters from multiple states are assisting their Victorian counterparts as they work to secure containment lines ahead of Boxing Day, which is expected to bring the worst conditions since the 2019 Black Summer.</p> <p>"There are two major concerns on Thursday – the fires already burning in the landscape, and any new fires that start as a result of the extreme fire risk," Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.</p> <div class="embed-block"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered">A total fire ban has been declared across the state, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting temperatures into the 40s, with wind gusts of up to 100km/h in elevated areas.</div> </div> <p>"That's enough to bring down trees and power lines, cause some minor power outages, but also create dangerous conditions for our ongoing fires through the Grampians," senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said on Wednesday.</p> <p>With some residents evacuating from around the park's north today, those remaining to defend property have been urged to monitor changing conditions and stay up-to-date with alerts.</p> <p>The State Control Centre's Luke Hegarty urged Victorians to observe the total fire ban and ensure all fires are out by midnight.</p> <p>"If you've been camping, if you've been out in the bush, or if you've been working at home ... check any fires, make sure they're fully extinguished and help keep Victoria safe," Mr Hegarty said.</p> <div class="embed-block"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered">Heat-related health risks could also occur, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, Ambulance Victoria Emergency Management Director Dale Armstrong warned.</div> </div> <p>"Most at risk are elderly people, young children and those with medical conditions, however heat and heat-related illnesses can affect anybody," Mr Armstrong said.</p> <p>Victorians have been urged to prepare for outages with provider AusNet warning power faults could be triggered to prevent bushfires starting on Thursday.</p> <p>As a cool change washes over Victoria on Friday, the extreme fire dangers will push into parts of central northeastern NSW on December 27 and 28.</p> </div> </body>