Residents in four regions of Victoria, Australia, have been instructed to evacuate by Friday morning due to a declared catastrophic bushfire danger rating. The Country Fire Authority raised the fire danger rating to catastrophic in central, north, northwest, and southwest Victoria, with an extreme rating for the rest of the state. This is the first time since November 2019 that such high-level fire danger ratings have been issued for multiple regions in Victoria.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch emphasized the urgency for residents in the catastrophic fire danger areas to leave by 7 a.m. local time on Friday to ensure their safety. Victoria’s Acting Premier, Ben Carroll, stressed the severity of the situation, warning of uncontrollable and unpredictable bushfires with the potential for significant loss of life and property. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for towns near two separate fires burning out of control in central and northeast Victoria.
Two structures have already been destroyed by a fire near Longwood, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the area. Additionally, a second uncontrolled fire near Walwa, on Victoria’s border with New South Wales, has burned over 3,000 hectares of land and poses a threat to nearby towns. Residents in these areas have also been advised to evacuate to ensure their safety.
