Residents across Victoria’s Otways region are confronting a severe bushfire crisis as a major blaze that ignited on January 10th has breached containment lines near Gellibrand. Emergency services escalated warnings to critical levels on Saturday afternoon as the fire advanced toward populated areas.
The Carlisle River fire, which has already consumed over 5,000 hectares of land, prompted immediate shelter-in-place orders for communities south of the fire front including Beech Forest, Ferguson, Gellibrand and Wyelangta. Official emergency alerts stated unequivocally: ‘This fire is threatening homes and lives. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.’
Emergency coordinators warned of an impending wind shift expected around 5:30 PM that would drive the fire northeast toward Barongarook, creating potentially lethal and unpredictable conditions. Residents in northern and eastern sectors received urgent evacuation directives while those in the direct path were advised that evacuation was no longer safe.
The crisis unfolds amid an intense heatwave gripping Victoria from January 24-30, prompting total fire bans across the state. More than 30 emergency vehicles are actively combating the blaze, with an Emergency Relief Center established at Colac Showgrounds for displaced residents.
This emergency represents one of the most significant fire events of the season, testing Victoria’s emergency response systems during extreme weather conditions that continue to challenge containment efforts.