Lightning strikes in December and January started several fires in the Grampians National Park:
- Wallaby Rocks (western) – this fire is the result of several fires that merged, including one that started at Victoria Range (Bullawin). This fire was contained on 8 February.
- Yarram Gap (eastern) – between Bellfield and Bornes Hill. This fire is under control.
Current situation
Favourable weather conditions over the past few days have reduced fire activity, although surrounding communities may continue to see smoke, particularly on days of increased wind.
Forecast warmer temperatures from Tuesday and freshening northerly winds on Wednesday may lead to increased fire risk before a south-westerly cool change later in the week.
Now is the time to review your fire survival plan. Go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare for help.
What we are doing
Aircraft and firefighting crews are working together to find and extinguish ‘hot spots’ - isolated pockets of smouldering fire in the existing fire area.
More than 100 people in firefighting vehicles, bulldozers and excavators are working to build and strengthen containment lines around the fire, to reduce the risk of it spreading any further.
Sections of the park will continue to be opened progressively, as soon as it is safe for people to enter. Unpredictable fire behaviour over many weeks has made it challenging for firefighting crews to safely assess the park.
Road update
Henty Hwy has been reopened in both directions between Horsham and Cavendish, with reduced speed limits. Many local roads are still closed due to the danger of falling trees. For your own safety, observe speed limits and never drive around roadblocks. Victoria Police will be regularly patrolling the area and enforcing road closures and speed restrictions. Current information is available via the VicTraffic website traffic.transport.vic.gov.au or by calling 13 11 70.
Park visitors
Some popular areas and visitor sites have been declared safe and are open to the public, however large areas of the park remain closed to ensure visitor and community safety.
Open - Central Grampians, Wonderland Range and Halls Gap visitor areas and day walks:
- Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre. Open 9am to 4pm every day. Phone 8427 2258.
- The Wonderland Loop Walk, including The Pinnacle, Venus Baths and Grand Canyon (either from Halls Gap or Wonderland Car Park)
- Chatauqua Peak, Clematis Falls and Bullaces Glen
- Boronia Peak.
Open - Roads:
- Grampians Tourist Road (all side roads remain closed) from Dunkeld to Halls Gap
- Mt Victory Road (Halls Gap to Wonderland Carpark only - the remainder of Mt Victory Road is closed)
- Victoria Valley Road via Mirranatwa Gap
Open - Designated rock-climbing areas:
- Halls Gap and Wonderland area sites 56 – 77
Closed - Camping / Overnight hikes:
- All vehicle based and hike-in campgrounds are currently closed.
The remainder of the National Park, including all visitor sites, walks, activity areas, roads and access tracks are closed.
The latest information is at: www.parks.vic.gov.au/coc-listing
Emergency relief payments
Emergency relief payments are available for people impacted by the Western Victoria bushfires. You may be eligible if:
your principal place of residence was damaged or destroyed and you can’t live in it, or
your principal place of residence was in an evacuation warning area, and you evacuated your property, and
you have unmet immediate relief needs.
Payments are based on an amount for each member of your household, up to a maximum of $2380 per eligible family. To apply for a payment, call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 (select option 0, then option 1).
Have some ID ready, if you can, like:
- driver’s license.
- Medicare card.
- letter or utility bill showing your address.
Essential water replacement
If Essential Water has been taken from domestic tanks and stock or irrigation dams for firefighting, it will be replaced (quantity taken) if requested by the landholder. The quantity of Essential Water taken for firefighting is the same amount of Essential Water to be replaced.
To lodge a request for essential water replacement, download and complete the Essential Water Replacement form, then email it to Emergency.recovery@deeca.vic.gov.au
More info here: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/recovery-after-an-emergency/public-land-recovery
Wildlife welfare
Wildlife field response activities commenced on 1 February, with trained assessment teams working in fire impacted areas where safe.
If you see wildlife impacted by fire, please call the wildlife coordinator on 1300 356 682, who can pass this on to the wildlife field assessment teams operating across the fireground.
Injured and orphaned wildlife not associated with an emergency should still be reported to a local authorised wildlife carer or rescuer or to Wildlife Victoria.
Small business support
Support is available to help small businesses recover from emergencies, visit Business Victoria and Regional Development Victoria websites.
Smoke health
Smoke from fires can increase air pollution, and exposure to smoke can affect you and your family's health.
For further information visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bushfiresmoke
If you are sensitive to smoke:
- Delay any walks, hikes or rock-climbing in smoky areas.
- Make sure you have enough Ventolin and take it with you when you travel.
- Tell your family where it is kept – it may be difficult to breathe or speak.
- Set air conditioning to recirculate in the car and at home.
- Stay with family or friends away from the smoke impacted area if possible.
Protect your health
Nurse-on-Call 1300 60 60 24 is a free helpline that will connect you with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days.
Recovery support
For all relief and recovery needs, visit your local council website or social media channel:
- Northern Grampians Shire www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Emergencies/Recovery-2024-Grampians-Bushfires
- Southern Grampians Shire www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au/Emergencies/Grampians-National-Park-Bushfire
- Horsham Rural City www.hrcc.vic.gov.au/Our-Services/Emergency-management/Bushfire-recovery
- Ararat Rural City www.ararat.vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery
After a fire – cleaning up and water safety
Private drinking water and water tank safety
Your water source may be contaminated from debris, ash, small dead animals or aerial fire retardants. If the water tastes, looks or smells unusual, do not drink it or give it to animals. Also, you should not source water from a creek that has been affected by bushfire as the water may be
contaminated. Water drawn from deep bores or wells should continue to be safe to use.
Cleaning up a smoke affected home
If your home has been damaged by the fire or smells of smoke from bushfires you should: ventilate your home; wash hard surfaces (furniture, walls and floors); wash soft furnishings (upholstered furniture and bedding); and wash affected clothing.
For more information visit www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au and search ‘after a fire’.
