<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337118</docID> <postdate>2025-01-28 14:25:54</postdate> <headline>Risk eases for bushfire but another may burn for weeks</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-337119" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/victorian-bushfires-e1738018298321.jpg" alt="" width="901" height="600" /></p> <caption>A bushfire sparked by dry lightning is burning out of control in western Victoria. Photo: State Control Centre</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Rachael Ward and Callum Godde</b> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>An out-of-control bushfire will likely burn for weeks, but the threat from another has been downgraded after destroying a popular wedding venue and conference centre.</strong></p> <p>Firefighters are battling two uncontrolled bushfires, one at Dimboola and Wail near the South Australian border and the other in the southwestern part of the Grampians National Park.</p> <p>The Dimboola fire was sparked by dry lightning at Little Desert National Park on Monday and has already grown to more than 63,000 hectares.</p> <p>Residents were told to evacuate but some at Dimboola District Hospital and the town's aged care facility didn't manage to get out in time and had to shelter in place.</p> <p>About 190 people sought refuge at a makeshift relief centre in Horsham, with 27 staying overnight.</p> <p>The fire was downgraded to watch and act on Tuesday afternoon and Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said it would soon be deemed "safe to return".</p> <p>"I'm incredibly thankful that no lives have been lost from this fire, and we have no reports of injuries either," he told reporters at the State Control Centre in Melbourne.</p> <p>Popular wedding and conference centre Little Desert Nature Lodge was destroyed in the blaze.</p> <p>"The lodge just exploded, it's totally gone," Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Ron Ismay told AAP.</p> <p>"It's very sad, it was a great venue for people of the area."</p> <p>Mr Nugent confirmed a farm house west of Dimboola was also lost and another near a river may have been impacted.</p> <p>Little Desert National Park and Wail State Forest remain closed and the rain line between Victoria and SA has been suspended.</p> <p>Damage assessments were expected to continue throughout Tuesday.</p> <p>A second emergency warning issued for Strachans, Victoria Point and Victoria Valley in the Grampians National Park has also been downgraded to watch and act.</p> <p>The fires are in the remote southwest and northwest parts of the Grampians that were not scorched by fires earlier this summer.</p> <p>"It's incredibly dry in there," Mr Nugent said.</p> <p>"It's been a lot of years since parts of the Grampians has burnt, and with all of those conditions, it's just made it really challenging this year for us."</p> <p>It took 21 days to bring blazes in the Grampians, sparked on December 17, under control.</p> <p>Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said these fires would present a "similar scenario" as a cool change gave way to gusty conditions.</p> <p>"The Grampians fire will be a real challenge for the coming days and potentially weeks," he said.</p> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan said there were up to 150 fires across the state as high heat and winds brought dangerous conditions and fire bans.</p> <p>A volunteer firefighter protecting the community on Monday had their ute stolen from Werneth Fire Station, about 60km west of Ballarat, and it was last seen at Linton.</p> <p>"I can't think of anything worse or a lower act to go and steal a car of a volunteer," CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said.</p> </body>