After three weeks, the bushfire in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is now contained. The fire began on 17 December after dry lightning started multiple fires in the southern part of the national park.
With a fire footprint circumference of 422 kilometres, more than 76,000 hectares of national park and agricultural land has burned.
Communities near the fire were urged to leave when several Emergency Warnings were issued in the lead up to the Christmas period.
The fire claimed four residential properties in Moyston and Mafeking, and 40 outbuildings in Moyston, Willaura, Willaura North, Mafeking, Pomonal, Glenthompson and Mirranatwa.
Preliminary data indicates livestock losses include 775 sheep, one horse, one beef cattle and 1,285 beehives. Additionally, more than 13,538 ha of farmland, including 10,053 ha of pasture was burnt, and 540 km of fencing was damaged.
Leading up to the past weekend’s elevated fire danger, firefighters conducted burning out operations to reduce vegetation and strengthen containment lines.
Firefighters and aircraft were actively patrolling the areas in and around the national park throughout the elevated fire danger period, addressing hotspots early and preventing any further spread of the existing fire.
This work helped to reduce fire activity and contain the fire ahead of more settled conditions over the next week. This means there is no active or running fire, and the perimeter is within control lines.
Whilst Halls Gap and the Grampians National Park remain closed to visitors, fire agencies are planning to reopen Halls Gap to visitors during the week. Planning is also underway for opening parts of the Grampians National Park later in the week.
Quotes attributable to Incident Controller Peter West
“This fire represents a significant environmental and social incident and one that deeply affects people connected to the national park, including Traditional Owners, tourism operators and visitors.
“Coinciding with what is typically the busiest season for tourism in the area, the fire has resulted in considerable hardships and financial losses for local businesses and communities.
“Declaring the fire contained allows us to begin the process of reopening Halls Gap and areas of the national park.
“Firefighters will continue to monitor and patrol the fire; this could still take a number of weeks. It is likely we will still see smoke and small flare-ups in the area, but we will continue to be present to deal with these when and as they arise.
“I want to thank the community and the public for their remarkable patience during our battle with this fire. We understand that many plans had to be altered and that the resulting inconvenience has had a significant impact on daily life and significant events such as Christmas.
“Your cooperation in following our messaging and adhering to road closures has been invaluable. It has allowed our crews to focus their efforts on fighting the fire effectively while prioritising community safety. Thank you once again for your understanding and support during this challenging time.
"Whilst we continue to focus on the suppression of the fire, planning is well underway to ensure a prompt and thorough recovery from this event.”
Victorians are reminded to always have more than one source of information, including:
- The VicEmergency app
- The VicEmergency website www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, commercial and select community radio stations, or SkyNews
- The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- VicEmergency on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter)
