Thousands told to evacuate now as bushfires sweep through Victoria – with residents in some towns told it’s too late to leave and to ‘act now to survive’

Victorians have been urged to evacuate their homes or ‘take shelter’ as devastating bushfires threaten swathes of the state.

A flurry of warnings have been issued for areas surrounding the Grampians National Park on Thursday for a series of blazes which have scorched more than 55,000 hectares over several days.

Emergency services have battled for control over the bushfire but reached a ‘critical stage’ during two wind changes expected on Thursday afternoon.

Residents of Jallukar, Londonderry, Moyston and Rhymney were warned to ‘Leave Immediately’ at just before 7:15pm.

Similar warnings were issued for areas surrounding Mokepilly, Pomonal, Halls Gap, Willaura, Maroona and Mininera after 4pm.

‘Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay,’ the warning reads.

More severe ‘take shelter’ warnings have also been issued for residents who are ‘in danger and need to act immediately to survive’.

The warnings are in effect for residents of Kia Ora, Willaura North, Bornes Hill, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap and the Mafeking.  

Residents in those areas have been urged to ‘take shelter indoors immediately’ because ‘it is too late to leave’.

It is recommended for anyone unable to reach shelter to instead seek a large open field or a body of water – such as a dam, lake or inground pool – and to do all they can to protect themselves from the fire’s heat.

Thousands of Victorians have been urged to evacuate their homes or ‘seek shelter’ as fires continue scorching through the Grampians National Park (pictured)

Residents in areas surrounding the Grampian National Park, including Dunkeld, Mirranatwa, Victoria Creek, Rocky Point, Deep Lead and Black Range have also been urged to ‘watch and act’.

Anyone in Bullengarook, northwest of Melbourne, have also been issued the same warning for a seperate blaze near Coffeys Road.

‘The situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be ready to act,’ the warning reads.

Much of Australia’s southeast is being enveloped by a windy swelter generating catastrophic conditions.

Hot, dry air is blanketing swathes of Victoria, southwestern NSW and much of eastern South Australia, with damaging winds fanning extreme fire danger.

The mercury was expected to reach the high 30s or 40s for much of Victoria and inland Australia on Thursday.

Two wind changes were likely to affect the Grampians: one driving through about 3pm and a stronger southwesterly arriving about 6pm. 

By mid afternoon, Victoria State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said fire crews were reaching a ‘critical part’ of the day.

‘We’re expecting strong winds and variable winds to be a concern over the next few hours,’ he said.

More than 55,000 hectares has been left scorched while firefighters have battled with the blaze over the past several days

Firefighters reached a ‘critical stage’ on Thursday as two wind changes driving through about 3pm and a stronger southwesterly arriving about 6pm were likely to affect the Grampians

Residents in areas surrounding the National Park have been told to keep up to date with current bushfire warnings as conditions can rapidly change

Incident Controller Mark Gunning said the scenario could make the fires spread unpredictably.

‘As the wind goes across the ranges in the Grampians, it’ll make its own conditions,’ he said.

All but one region of Victoria faces extreme risk, with total fire bans also declared for numerous regions in South Australia.

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said Victorian fires in the Grampians, Bullengarook, the Gurdies and Creswick remain a concern.

The out-of-control blaze in Grampians National Park has been burning for days, scorching more than 55,000 hectares.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses,’ Mr Nugent told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

Hot, dry air is blanketing swathes of Victoria, southwestern NSW and much of eastern South Australia, with damaging winds fanning extreme fire danger

The Bureau of Meteorology fears the weather conditions could exacerbate the blazes raging through the Grampians

Premier Jacinta Allan also delivered a stern message amid the state’s worst conditions since the 2019 Black Summer. 

‘Today’s a day of total fire ban across Victoria. Don’t be a d**khead. No fires to be lit,’ she said on social media.

Halls Gap Zoo has begun evacuating animals to Werribee Zoo with sprinklers keeping the remaining ones cool.

Emergency assistance running relief centres, psychological first aid and financial counselling, and evacuations, clean up and road diversions are available for Ararat Rural City Council, Macedon Ranges, Northern Grampians and Southern Grampians Shires.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore feared the expected strong, hot, dry winds could take hold in the Grampians.

‘Any fire will be uncontrollable and uncontainable in these conditions,’ he said.

As a cool change washes over Victoria on Thursday night, hot, dry conditions will push into central northeastern NSW, bringing extreme danger on Friday.

Total fire bans have been declared for the Hunter, Greater Sydney, North Western and Northern Slopes regions.