Grim Black Summer warning as out-of-control bushfire devastates Victoria national park and five states are put on high alert

Millions of Australians have been warned to brace for a dangerous bushfire season this summer that could be similar to the devastating Black Summer fires of 2019 and 2020.

The major warning comes as firefighters continue battle out of control flames in Victoria. 

A fast-growing fire in Victoria’s Grampians National Park had razed 30,000 hectares on Saturday evening despite the efforts of 350 firefighters to contain it.

And authorities have warned it could just be the beginning, with the summer bushfire outlook for 2024 showing large parts of Australia are at an increased risk of fire danger. 

The outlook, which was prepared by the National Council for Fire and Emergency services in November, has identified significant fire danger for four states. 

These include the southern coastline and central west of WA and the lower coastal and southeast region of the lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. 

‘Large areas of the southwest and far west of Victoria, portions of the northeast, and the Mornington Peninsula in southwest Gippsland have an increased risk of fire,’ the outlook said. 

Central northern and central southern NSW have also been placed on alert, while significant portions of the Northern Territory were deemed at risk of fire danger.  

A fast-growing fire in Victoria’s Grampians National Park had razed 30,000 hectares on Saturday evening despite the efforts of 350 firefighters to contain it 

The outlook, which was prepared by the National Council for Fire and Emergency services in November, has identified significant danger for four states

The massive blaze in Victoria on Saturday has spread quickly over the past 24 hours, after it tore through around 7,500 hectares of land on Friday morning. 

Residents in several nearby towns including Bellfield, Flat Rock, Fyans Creek and Halls Gap were ordered to evacuate immediately on Saturday. 

The Vic Emergency website has issued 16 different warnings ranging from Watch and Act to emergency warnings for dozens of areas across the state.

The Watch and Act alert has been issued for several areas including Bullengarook and Lederberg in Melbourne’s north-west. 

Watgania, Mafeking, Jimmy Creek, Barton, Jallukar and Londonderry have also been issued with Watch and Act alerts as of Saturday evening. 

An emergency warning that was issued for Lake Fayans and Pomonal has since been downgraded to Watch and Act since 5.30pm on Saturday afternoon. 

Fire Rescue Victoria Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Gunning said the bushfire in the Grampians region could burn for weeks. 

Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan said a dry winter across Victoria has provided fertile ground for dangerous fire conditions as the weather continues to get warmer. 

The summer bushfire outlook for 2024 has indicated large parts of Australia is at an increased risk of fire danger

‘The underlying dryness during winter, the lowest on record, for some parts of Victoria has led to significant dieback and undergrowth vegetation,’ Mr Heffernan said. 

Mr Heffernan urged residents to have a bushfire plan ready to go in the event of a heightened bushfire risk. 

‘On hot, dry and windy days, have a back-up location to visit that is not in a high-risk bushfire area,’ he said. 

‘If you’re staying in a bushfire risk area, the safest option is to leave the night before or early in the day on a catastrophic or extreme day.’

The bushfire outlook also noted the limited rainfall that parts of southwestern Victoria and and parts of WA received this year. 

The lack of moisture has contributed to substantial amounts of dry plant material. 

‘Southern Australia received below average rainfall for the cool season and into spring. As a result, soil moisture is below average across much of southern and eastern Australia,’ the outlook said.

‘Communities are encouraged to be vigilant and stay alert this summer even if in areas of Australia showing normal risk of fire as catastrophic fires can still occur during normal bushfire seasons.’

The warning comes five years after the devastating Black Summer bushfires that wreaked havoc across Australia

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average temperatures during the next few days and nights across the country. 

Northern and eastern parts of Australia are set to reach high minimum temperatures.   

Parts of northern and central Queensland are also set to experience above average rainfall this week. 

The bushfire outlook has also indicated above average rainfall is likely to be seen in South Australia and WA this summer. 

The warning comes five years after the devastating Black Summer bushfires that wreaked havoc across Australia leaving the world shocked by the trial of destruction that was left behind as a result.  

The disaster claimed the lives of 33 people across the country and the bushfires ripped through a massive 19million hectares of land.  

Around 3,000 homes were destroyed and tens of thousands of people were displaced. 

The disaster also claimed the lives of native flora and fauna with billions of animals estimated to have been killed, according to findings by Natural Research Hazards of Australia.