Hot and windy conditions resulted in several new significant fires in the west of the state on Monday.
Approximately 10,000 dry lightning strikes caused around 70 ignitions in private land and approximately 80 in public land and national parks across the state, with the most notable occurring in the Little Desert and Grampians (Gariwerd) National Parks.
Five new fires have spread through the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and it is expected that these fires will continue to grow in size until they all merge, becoming a ‘campaign fire’, and that they will remain burning for the foreseeable future.
The communities that are most likely to be impacted by the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park fires are Wartook and Halls Gap, and these communities are advised to remain aware of changing conditions.
The Little Desert National Park fire grew at a rapid rate of 14-to-18 kilometres per hour and quickly expanded to 69,000 hectares as a contingent of yesterday’s 68 deployed aircraft responded directly to this fire.
The current south-westerly wind conditions are expected to continue for the remainder of the week before a hot easterly change, and potential heatwave conditions, begin over the weekend which may again elevate the fire risk for currently impacted areas and for the rest of Victoria.
Quotes attributable to CFA Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan
“The Little Desert fire was of such an intensity where it generated its own fire thunderstorm which then saw further lightning strikes”.
“My biggest concern is for dormant fires caused by these lightning strikes to expand on elevated fire days, which we are anticipating to come over the remainder of summer”.
Quotes attributable to Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman
“The new fires in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park are in particularly remote and inaccessible areas, which means that these fires will continue to grow and become a campaign fire, and we expect that all five will merge at some point”.
“Firefighters are planning to do everything in their powers to protect the communities of Wartook and Halls Gap from the progression of this fire over the coming days”.
Quotes attributable to Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent
“Our firefighters and aviation crews did great work to suppress the Little Desert fire and prevent it from getting out of the park and into private land”.
“I’d sincerely like to thank the community for actively monitoring conditions and listening to the advice provided. It is really clear that community do listen and act, and leave early when they’re asked to do so”.
“I’d like to thank the families and employers of volunteers. Thank you so much for your support that enables our volunteers to get out there on those trucks”.
