An emergency warning has been issued on Friday afternoon for residents in Mafeking and Watgania to leave immediately, as the blaze in Victoria's Grampians National Park intensifies.
Emergency Warning - Bushfire - Leave Immediately for Mafeking, Watgania.— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.More details at https://t.co/9ZOL6GIQnG pic.twitter.com/yAtrnTlmC5December 20, 2024
The fire has grown to at least 7800 hectares after being sparked by a series of lightning strikes on Tuesday.
"This is one that's unfortunately going to be with us for quite a while," State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said.
An afternoon wind change was expected to present challenges for firefighters and send smoke across central western Victoria.
"This afternoon, we are expecting this fire to really have the potential to grow," Mr Hegarty said.
Authorities have also urged residents of Karabeal, southwest of the Grampians, to stay near shelter after a grassfire sparked near Walters road.
There at fires burning in at least six parts of Victoria, and a watch and act warning has been issued for Woodland Close and The Gurdies near French Island.
A wind change was expected to present challenges for firefighters on Friday afternoon. (HANDOUT/VIC EMERGENCY)
The Grampians fire has sparked raft of tourism cancellations at the popular camping and hiking destination.
South of the bushfire, Dunkeld Caravan Park caretaker Erin Hinchliffe said the campsite remained open but after 30 cancellations there were just four sites booked.
"We're starting to get a little bit on edge because of not knowing what's actually going to happen with the weather patterns today," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
The fire's pre-Christmas timing would be a major hit to what was shaping up to be the campground's busiest period since before the pandemic.
"We had a full house. It was the first time in six years that we've been able to get the occupancy up over Christmas and New Year period," she said.
Emergency Management Victoria controller Mark Gunning said the area around the fire, which started near Yarram Gap Road, was already extremely dry and very little rain has been forecast.
"It is in really challenging country, which has allowed the fire to establish on the escarpment," he said.
Extreme fire danger has been forecast and total fire bans are in place for the Wimmera and Mallee districts on Friday.
High fire danger is expected to persist in western, northwestern and nothern Victoria into next week.
Two air tankers have been water bombing the fire continuously, assisting a significant deployment of the state's aerial firefighting resources.
Some roads and areas of the Southern Grampians are closed but large, popular tourist sections of the national park remain open to visitors.
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