Fears lightning to strike twice as fire threat lingers

At the same time, heatwave warnings remain across much of Australia.

A thunderstorm caused a fresh round of lightning strikes at the southern end of the Grampians national park in the state's west, with fears of more to come.

Wild winds have wreaked havoc on three out-of-control bushfires at Little Desert National Park near the South Australian border, Wallaby Rocks the in northern Grampians National Park and Victoria Range in the park's south.

Communities surrounding the fires have been living under evacuation orders or watch and act warnings for more than a week.

Fresh southerly winds on Tuesday caused concern for fire agencies, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Lincoln Trainor said.

"It will keep the fire danger up to high, not extreme, but to high and that's enough (to) keep the fire agencies with their hands full for the next 24 hours," he told AAP.

Southern Grampians Shire mayor Dennis Heslin agreed the fire threat was not over.

"This fire has a tendency to spread great distances, even with mild southerly winds," Mr Heslin said.

"When the lightning comes through, the dry lightning strikes, it has the potential for great danger, irrespective of what the wind is and what the temperature is."

⛈�TODAY's Thunderstorm FORECAST (4 Feb ):— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) 🟡Severe storms possible: most of #Vic except the south-west and far east and north-eastHazards: Damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall🟢Non-severe storms possible: all except the far south-westWarnings: https://t.co/HLs2UYFQyQ pic.twitter.com/NPtPDceGoWFebruary 4, 2025

He said crews were backburning near the southern Grampians fire to create a firebreak with concerns the two blazes in the national park may meet.

The rugged terrain between the fires may pose a challenge for ground crews particularly if lightning strikes happen and smoke prevents waterbombing aircraft getting close.

Ash and debris from the fires could end up in waterways and contaminate dams, making the water unsuitable for livestock.

Mr Heslin said firefighters in the region were tired, with residents in the small town of Mirranatwa surrounded by fire since mid-December when a different blaze tore through the national park.

"Even though this fire is potentially 80km from where it reached in the Christmas-New Year fire, it's the same guys that are fighting it," he said.

"Many of them have been out there for eight weeks, they are exhausted".

A bushfire in Little Desert National Park continues to burn out of control. (HANDOUT/Horsham Incident Control Centre)

Authorities are bracing for the Southern Grampians fire to burn until March.

Nationals deputy leader Emma Kealy, who represents the state seat of Lowan which takes in the Grampians, called for the government to launch an inquiry into whether fuel reduction burns were sufficient in the region.

"My community are desperate for answers, they want an inquiry," she told parliament.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the Inspector-General for Emergency Management reviewed the handling of "each and every" natural disaster.

Ms Kealy said businesses had been forced to close because the federal and state Labor governments had failed to provide disaster support in their "time of need".

She asked the premier when small business support packages would be available.

Ms Allan noted personal hardship payments had been activated by the federal government for employees and sole traders who had lost income.