As it happened: Fires rage across NSW, Victoria

Updated

Bushfires rage across Victoria and NSW On the frontline Firefighters battle a major fire that broke containment lines near the NSW town of Coonabarabran. Homes destroyed Emily Stewart reports from Heyfield, in south-eastern Victoria, where several homes have been destroyed by out of control bushfires. 'Not looking good' Lake Glenmaggie caravan park manager Glen Coles describes the bushfire situation. 'Another test' Premier Ted Baillieu says Victorians are facing trying times as a large bushfire rages through Gippsland. Towns under threat Victoria's Country Fire Authority has issued an emergency warning for fires threatening homes in Glenmaggie. No respite Firefighters in central NSW are continuing to fight the bushfire burning in the Warrumbungle National Park.

Police have confirmed a man has died in a bushfire in Victoria's south-east as blazes rage across Victoria and New South Wales.

The man's body was found in a burnt-out vehicle near Seaton this afternoon and a bushfire continues to burn out of control in the area.

A number of emergency warnings are in place in both states and at least five houses have been lost in Victoria and two have been lost in New South Wales.

See how Friday's events unfolded on our blog (all times AEDT):

10:00pm: The NSW RFS says the fire at Grange Avenue, Marsden Park, in Sydney's north-west is now contained. Richmond and Garfield roads are now open again.

9:25pm: The emergency warning for the Barringella Creek fire in NSW has been downgraded to a watch and act alert.

The NSW RFS says firefighters are still trying to contain the blaze (currently 12km south west of Nowra), but there is no immediate threat to property.

9:15pm: NEW FIRES: Victoria's CFA says two new fires have started this evening near the Murray River in the state's north-east.

One of the fires started in Mt Lawson State Park near Tallangatta. It has believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. It is burning out of control but is not threatening property.

The second fire is burning further east in the Burrowa Pine Mountain area, near Corryong.

9:02pm: Here is just one scene of destruction caused by the Glenmaggie fire, east of Melbourne, today:

8:58pm: The NSW RFS says people to the immediate north of the Shoalhaven River should keep an eye out for an spot fires that jump the river.

Firefighters have been dealing with erratic fire conditions as they battle a blaze 12km west of Nowra near the Colymea State Forest.

NSW RFS spokesman Matthew Reeves says the emergency warning remains in place for residents on the Burrier and Yalwal Roads:

"Those areas do remain at risk and we're sending additional crews in to fight the fire. We're advising people on the southern side of the Shoalhaven River to remain at their current location and take advice of firefighters and other emergency services on the ground."

8:45pm: In NSW, 7.30's Adam Harvey reports from the town of Coonabarabran where firefighters have been battling a major fire that broke through containment lines.

8:35pm: Vic Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley gives an update on the fires burning across Victoria. He says the Gippsland fire will challenge the community of Licola tonight:

8:28pm: Wellington Shire Mayor Scott Rossetti speaks to 7.30 about how Gippsland residents are coping at the local relief centre:

8:23pm: The NSW RFS says it has received reports of significant lightning across parts of NSW this evening.

8:04pm: A 702ABC Sydney listener has sent in this photo of the blaze in Ku Ring-Gai National Park:

7:38pm: There are reports a lot of residents are wanting to return to their homes around Seaton to inspect damage. Authorities are warning it is unlikely they will be allowed back until tomorrow.

7:34pm: NSW RFS has just released this image of the Millingandi fire burning near Bega:

7:08pm: NSW RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says it has been an enormously busy day.

He has told News24 dozens more fires may have been started by lightning this afternoon.

"There has been sporadic rainfall but certainly no widespread rain and no relief from these conditions. Whilst conditions will be milder tomorrow, I think we are in for a long time before we get these fires under control."

7:04pm: NSW RFS has downgraded the alert for the Aberdare fire near Cessnock to watch and act.

6:57pm: From the photo desk:

6:50pm: NSW authorities have confirmed two houses and a shed have been lost in the bushfire near Bega.

Joel Kursawe from the Rural Fire Service says the fire crossed the highway earlier this afternoon.

"Unfortunately we've received confirmation that two houses and two sheds have been lost in this fire. We did advise people earlier on this afternoon and leading up to tonight that if they were north of the fire that they should head towards Bega along the Princes Highway, now that still stands."

6:34pm: EMERGENCY WARNING: Barringella Creek near Shoalhaven.

The fire is spreading in a northerly direction and properties in the following areas may come under threat:

Areas along the Shoalhaven River

Barrier Road, south of Meadow Flat

Lillydale area east to Bamerang Nature Reserve

Yalwal Road, north of Colymea Conservation Area.

6:19pm: BREAKING: Victorian Police have confirmed a man has died in the bushfire near Seaton:

"Police can confirm that the body of a male has been located deceased in a burnt out vehicle in the Seaton area around 5pm this afternoon. "The body of the male has yet to be formally identified. Police are investigating and will prepare a report for the Coroner. "CFA and DSE fire fighters continue to fight the out of control fire in the Glenmaggie and surrounding area."

6:14pm: EMERGENCY WARNING UPDATE: Glenmaggie Seaton fire

The fire is moving in a north-easterly direction and is now impacting Lake Glenmaggie, Dawson, Heyfield and Seaton.

Residents are warned to act immediately as they are in danger.

6:03pm: NSW RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says there are reports of two homes lost in the Bega Valley bushfire.

5:58pm: Victorian CFA say they cannot confirm reports someone has died in the bushfire in the Seaton-Dawson area.

Heyfield incident controller Bill Johnstone:

"I cant confirm any reports. we're hearing some information but until we can turn it into actual intelligence we can't verify or deny anything."

5:20pm: Rob Rogers from the NSW Rural Fire Service says some firefighters have collapsed as they battle bushfires in extreme conditions today.

"It's just a really difficult day. We have had a number of firefighters collapse with heat exhaustion... A very difficult day for firefighters," he said.

He has also warned that a change in conditions is likely to worsen the fires before they hopefully ease over the weekend.

"As that change moves up through NSW, we will see an increase in the wind speed ahead of the change and then obviously the fires that are burning will change direction. "That will bring its own set of complications itself and it is dangerous for fire fighting but we're anticipating that that change will come through. Then after some time, after the change has passed, we're hoping that the winds will start to subside. "It will only take some time and maybe overnight before conditions really ease. What can we anticipate for the weekend ahead then? Tomorrow is much milder conditions and into Sunday as well but I think the problem is that we will have so much fire to deal with, we're just going to be flat out dealing with that fire."

5:11pm: WEATHER UPDATE: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Sydney, Orange, Mudgee, Bathurst, Katoomba and Dubbo.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds over the next several hours.

4:58pm: The NSW RFS has now downgraded the alert for the bushfire burning at Campbelltown to watch and act.

4:52pm: JUST IN FROM TWITTER: The heat has been so intense in Coonabarabran it caused the rear windshield of the ABC news team's hire car to shatter - oddly enough in the shape of Australia:

4:35pm: NEW EMERGENCY WARNINGS ISSUED IN NSW:

The RFS has issued an emergency warning for a bushfire around Aberdare, near Cessnock.

The fire is burning in bushland near Melbourne Street, Duffie Drive and Cummerford Close. The fire has crossed Duffie Drive and is burning in a south-easterly direction towards Kearsley.

Over 100 firefighters are working in the area to protect properties.

A southerly change is forecast to reach the area late tonight. This change has the potential to send the fire in a northerly direction towards Neath.

An emergency warning has been issued for the bushfire around Menangle Road in Campbelltown.

The fire is currently burning to the east of the Hume Highway near Menangle Road.

Some properties along Menangle Road may come under threat. The areas of Glen Alpine and the University of Western Sydney may be affected by smoke.

The main southern rail line has been closed from Narellan Road.

4:13pm: MILLINGANDI FIRE UPDATE: NSW RFS warning that the fire has crossed the Princes Highway and is now impacting on properties around Forest Lane and Millingandi Road, Red Gum Road and Yellow Pinch Dam Road.

People to the north of the fire should head towards Bega along the Princes Highway and people to the south of the fire should head towards Merimbula.

4:06pm: Victoria's Country Fire Authority have held a media conference and say five houses have now been lost in today's bushfires.

Commissioner Craig Lapsley says the fire near Heyfield could keep burning for up to two weeks.

He says crews are preparing for a long campaign and communities around Heyfield and Maffra will need to remain on alert.

"One of the problems we'll have now is once it buries itself in the deep-seated bush area and the next northerly day it will then come out above the communities of Heyfield and Maffra yet again and that's a real risk next week, even then to control it in the bush in the weather conditions we've got will be extremely difficult."

4:01pm: Victorian CFA says the Aberfeldy bushfire is still heading towards the town of Licola and is expected to impact anytime in the next two hours.

There are 10 residents in the area who have been unable to leave.

3:57pm: The NSW RFS says police have evacuated some residents from Ellalong St in Aberdare as the bushfire near Cessnock continues to burn out of control.

Evacuees have been taken to be the Kearsley Community Centre.

3:42pm: NSW FIRE UPDATE: The NSW RFS says the blaze at Melbourne Street, Aberdare, near Cessnock, has broken containment lines and is threatening properties in Ellalong, Kearsley and Aberdare.

3:38pm: From the photo desk: the view from the banks of Lake Glenmaggie in Victoria

3:28pm: The NSW Rural Fire Service has now downgraded the warning for the Cessnock bushfire to a watch and act alert.

3:22pm: EMERGENCY WARNING: Millingandi fire in the Bega Valley.

The NSW RFS says the fire is burning in the Millingandi area, approximately 5 kilometres west of Merimbula and 2 kilometres west of the Merimbula bypass.

A southerly change is expected to reach the area soon. Properties in Redgum Road, Yellow Pinch Dam Road, Forest Lane, Millingandi Road and north of Merimbula Bypass may be under threat as a result of the wind change.

Firefighters and aircraft are working to contain the fire.

Residents are being urged to leave now if it is safe via the Princes Highway, north towards Bega.

3:15pm: As bushfires burn across the southern states, Sydney is sweltering through its hottest day on record. The temperature has now hit 45.8 degrees Celsius. The previous record was 45.3 degrees, recorded in 1939.

3:08pm: NSW FIRE UPDATE: The RFS says it is now too late to the leave the town of Boorowa in the state's south due to the out of control Watershed Road blaze.

The fire is burning between Young and Boorowa and is six kilometres west of Boorowa and moving quickly.

3:03pm: EMERGENCY WARNING: Aberfeldy, Donnelys bushfire in Victoria.

The Country Fire Authority warns there is a large, fast moving bushfire in the Licola area. It is travelling in a north-easterly direction.

The fire is expected to impact Licola between 4:00pm and 6:00pm (AEDT).

The bushfire is about 44,500 hectares in size and is creating spot fires approximately 2 to 4 kilometres ahead. Licola Road is closed to traffic.

2:57pm: In NSW's north-west, the RFS says it has managed to keep a fire near Coonabarabran from crossing the Newell Highway after it earlier broke containment lines.

Inspector Brett Loughlin says crews are water bombing along the highway.

"To further protect the Newell Highway and to strengthen it, as well as the bombers dropping retardant along the western side, we also have special vehicle, they nicknamed it the linebacker. This vehicle is filled with a retardant, like a water truck but with additional spray beams and it is going along spraying retardant off to the side of the western side of the Newell Highway."

Inspector Loughlin says residents of about 60 farms have been sent an alert, warning them that their properties may be affected today.

He says crews are already at some of the farms.

"There's several properties that are under threat and firefighters are on scene and are working with the residents to protect those properties. "Because there are firefighters there, the threat to those properties is greatly reduced because we're working together."

2:53pm: The RFS are still battling a bushfire near Cessnock where homes have been threatened.

RFS community safety officer Burt Pippin says two water bombing helicopters and 100 firefighters are working to bring the blaze under control.

"It did flare up and have a bit of impact with smoke and ember attack on some homes in the Melbourne Street area of Aberdare, but we've been able to contain that at the moment. "The threat (to homes) has declined slightly but we still ask the residents in that area to be mindful of what's happening, keep the streets clear for the fire appliances and make sure that their properties are safe."

2:45pm: Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu says the next few days will be a test for the state:

2:38pm: The Victorian Country Fire Authority has updated the emergency warning for the Glenmaggie fire.

This fire is impacting Lake Glenmaggie, Dawson, Heyfield and Seaton now. This bushfire is approximately 44,500 hectares in size and is out of control, currently creating spot-fires ahead of the fire.

A wind change is moving the fire in a north easterly direction.

2:30pm: Record breaking weather: Sydney is on the verge of breaking the record for its hottest ever day. It is currently 45.2 degrees Celsius. The record is 45.3.

Canberra has broken its record, with the mercury hitting 41.6 degrees, breaking the previous record of 41.4.

2:21pm: More stories of survival are emerging after a bushfire tore through Gippsland.

The operator of Montanna holiday camp near Heyfield, Barry Taylor, says his wife and two children chose to stay and protect their home.

He says the fire destroyed a shed, a tractor and water tank on the property and killed six kangaroos.

"The roos are just laying there on their backs, all scorched, burnt all black and blown up from the heat I guess and laying there with their feet in the air," he said.

2:17pm: Joel Kursawe from the NSW Rural Fire Service tells ABCNews 24 says says conditions could potentially change quickly for a number of bushfires burning across the state today:

"The potential for there to be a change on [the Coonabarabran] fire and a number around the state is very real. We're seeing conditions not quite as catastrophic as they were last Tuesday. However, severe and extreme in some areas and whilst we've got these large fires burning, accompanied with these hot westerly winds, the high temperatures up around the 40s, and then the southerly change this afternoon, then, yes, the situation could change quite quickly in a lot of these areas."

2:00pm: EMERGENCY WARNING: Watershed Fire at the Mobbity Road area near Young.

The fire is burning approximately 10 kilometres south of Murringo in the Moppity area.

The fire is burning in a north-easterly direction.

Properties in the Moppity area and along Galong Murringo Road are at threat and residents are advised to leave now only if it safe to do so, otherwise take shelter in a solid structure.

12:57pm: UPDATE: NSW RFS says properties in Melbourne Street, Cessnock, are now being impacted. Residents are advised to shelter in a solid structure as the fire arrives. Duffy Drive is now closed.

1:46pm: EMERGENCY WARNING: Melbourne Street (Cessnock) in New South Wales.

The fire started yesterday and has reignited under extreme fire conditions this afternoon.

The fire is burning in a south-easterly direction in bushland near Melbourne Street, Duffie Drive and Cummerford Close.

A southerly change is forecast to reach the area late tonight.

An emergency alert telephone warning message is being sent to homes in the area.

1:38pm: ABC reporter Danny Morgan has filed this snap from the field in Dawson in the Gippsland region:

1:20pm: Rural Fire Service spokesman Joel Kursawe has updated News24 on the situation in NSW, saying crews have put in solid backburning efforts in the past few days, but conditions are now deteriorating:

"We're already seeing 41 degrees at Nowra and winds up to 35 kilometres an hour. Whilst we have some very solid containment lines in and around this fire, it would only take a couple of big gusts of wind and potentially some embers burning in logs or trees to blow ahead of these containment lines and obviously present us with a new fire that's uncontained, and change the game plan."

He says the Coonabarabran fire is the largest in NSW at the moment and it remains uncontained.

"We have a number of rural and remote properties that were in the area that may be threatened today. They've been asked to remain alert and keep up to date with the fire's progress on our website. We did see in the early hours of this morning this fire cross the Newell Highway."

1:04pm: Back to the revelation earlier that a fire crew had a narrow escape in Gippsland this morning after being caught in their truck in a spot fire. Country Fire Authority incident controller Laurie Jeremiah says the crew was working to save houses at the time:

"But we have accounted for the crew and the vehicle [is] not damaged, the crew [is] not injured, the crew is still working."

1:01pm: Still in New South Wales, a fire has broken out south of Mudgee in the state's central west. The Rural Fire Service says it is receiving unconfirmed reports some properties have been lost in the blaze on Riverlea Road. Water bombing planes are being called in to try to contain the fire.

12:56pm: Authorities have upgraded the warning level for a bushfire still burning east of Cooma, just south of the ACT. The watch and act warning has been issued due to increasing winds and temperatures and lower humidity. The Rural Fire Service says people living near the fire front need to start taking action now to protect themselves and their families. Fires near Yass and Bungendore remain under control.

12:54pm: Liz and Tony Coghlan run a historic homestead at Abington Farm, west of Hayfield, and have been up since the early hours of this morning watching the bushfire. Tony says their guests, a Spanish couple, knocked on the door at 4.00am to ask for advice about the blaze.

"They got a text from Paris telling them they were in trouble and to get out."

The couple have since departed and are now headed for Melbourne.

12:45pm: The fires around Coongulla are now under watch and act status. Emergency warnings are still in place for Glenmaggie, Licola, Dawson, Heyfield and Seaton. Access the latest from the Country Fire Authority here.

12:38pm: Reporter Alison Savage just posted this snap from Gippsland:

@alisavage: Road into Heyfield. Wind is intense #VicFires pic.twitter.com/g2WzMQzL

12:34pm: In Gippsland in Victoria, Jim from Denison has described battling a mammoth blaze.

"We were on it within three to four minutes of it igniting ... and [before] we got it out it was the size of a house."

He said a south-westerly wind was pushing the fire away from where he lives, but added "what's my advantage is someone else's disadvantage".

12:30pm: The Department of Primary Industries says hundreds of sheep and cattle have been killed in the NSW bushfires. State emergency coordinator Simon Oliver has described the damage to fencing and other farm infrastructure as "horrific". He says while more livestock losses are expected, the numbers are not as high as first feared.

"There seems to be a few that have got out of the fire sort of zone around the fringe. In some areas maybe the stocking rates aren't as high as what we would expect. In saying that, there are people that have been heavily impacted in the area and we still haven't had access to some of the grounds. We expect the numbers to rise."

12:27pm: A recovery centre is opening in Coonabarabran to help victims of the NSW bushfires. A range of agencies including Centrelink, the Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales Health and Legal Aid will be operating from the town hall. Warrumbungle Shire Council general manager Steve Loan says it is amazing how quickly the centre was set up.

"There's been a miraculous transformation, I'm looking here now at cubicles that have been built by a team of carpenters. They had trucks arrive with timber and desks and chairs, and all that sort of thing. Now we've got 10 cubicles here for various agencies to sit in and talk to members of the public that need help."

12:18pm: NSW update: ABC reporter Sarah Hawke says fresh winds are pushing the Warrumbungle blaze through farmland. Reporting from a property called Lumeah, she says the fire has already burnt very close to a timber homestead and is now pushing through a neighbouring paddock.

"Helicopters are scooping water from a nearby dam to douse the flames and the property owner is helping coordinate the crews. Sheep have been moved into a small paddock nearby away from the flames."

She says the Rural Fire Service says it is too early to know how far the blaze has spread, but it could be between four and eight kilometres.

The fire passed through Doug Simmons's farm, but fire crews managed to save his house.

"They sat here all night at the house, two firetrucks, waiting for it to get closer and they saved everything, the sheds, house. I couldn't... I thought I was going to lose it all at one stage and I can't believe how good a job they did."

12:11pm: Victoria Fire Commissioner Craig Lapsley has confirmed that the fires are expected to continue burning for at least the next week. He posted this video update a little while ago:

12:04pm: Aside from homes, a number of buildings have also been confirmed destroyed in the Gippsland region. Some phone services have also been cut between Heyfield and Licola. The area has limited mobile coverage. A wind change will push the fire into remote heavily forested country later today. Country Fire Authority incident controller Laurie Jeremiah says crews are working to keep the main fire from spreading into remote wilderness country east of Glenmaggie.

"In the weeks coming forward we want to keep it west of the Macalister (River) so that the area that's burnt now provides a bit of protection."

12:01pm: Just in from the photo desk:

11:52am: People are gathering at the relief centre at the Gippsland Regional Sports Centre in Sale. Wellington Shire Mayor Scott Rossetti says there is a strong sense of community in the fire-affected areas.

"It's also the bush telegraph. As soon as one person hears it doesn't take long to get round the community, and then everyone swings into action and gets their pipes and pumps all ready to go, helping out their neighbours, and making sure everyone's OK."

11:44am: The latest Bureau of Meteorology weather warning for the Gippsland region says a cold front over central Victoria will move through remaining eastern districts during the afternoon. Damaging north to north-westerly winds with peak gusts of 90 km/h are forecast for elevated areas above about 900 metres. Read the warning in full here.

11:32am: News 24 is speaking with Wellington Shire Council's Cr Malcolm Hole in Heyfield:

"I think it is an unusual fire. I think it is caused because of the constant wind changes and pushing the fire back over into territory that it hadn't covered and which wasn't expected to be covered. The speed at which the fire is travelling - in fact I am just standing here watching Elvis drop water just down the road from me - the fire is getting fairly close to my property and to the edge of Heyfield."

Cr Hole says he has a plan if the fires hit his home:

"I will hide behind a brick wall inside the house. We have new hoses and new fittings ready to go onto taps and we have buckets of water at the door to throw on any wooden structure outside. At the speed with which this fire is going, it will go past the homes in 15 to 20 seconds. It is the damage that we have to put out after it goes past. So we have stuff to cover ourselves with. We have water to drink to keep ourselves hydrated. We have the rock splitters in case we have to knock down anything that is burning and we can't get it out of the road quick enough. We are insured so we are ready to go."

11:18am: Just in from the photo desk (courtesy of Churchill CFA):

11:07am: NSW firefighters are assessing just how far a bushfire has spread after it earlier broke containment lines south-west of Coonabarabran. The fire jumped the lines at Hickeys Falls about 36 kilometres from Coonabarabran this morning and is moving toward the Newell Highway. Firefighting crews are on standby to protect homes in the area. RFS Inspector Alex Chesser says gusty winds have not helped:

"Today the weather's not on our side but we've got an extremely large group of very experienced firefighters being supported by our very skilled instant management team and over 20 aircraft at our disposal. All of these resources are going to be tested today."

11:01am: BREAKING: It is believed up to five homes have been lost in the Glenmaggie and Seaton area. The owners of one of the houses survived, but have been trapped in the area by fallen trees. It has also emerged that a fire crew had to take shelter in their tanker as the flames went over. All survived.

10:56am: Glenmaggie Caravan Park owner Glen Coles has given another update to the ABC on the conditions in his area. He says he is pretty safe but he can't tell what is happening to one of his three caravan parks:

"I'm looking at the fire as we speak. It is heading towards one of my parks now. It can't actually get to the park to see if it is OK... I have three caravan parks and it is not very good... Visibility is about 100 metres at the moment. It is very dark, very overcast - not overcast but just smoke. That is all there is."

Watch his earlier interview below:

10:51am: The Country Fire Authority says it expects the Gippsland blazes to continue burning for at least the next week. Scores of roads have been closed by the fires, including Licola Road. Incident controller Laurie Jeremiah says authorities are presently trying to assess how many homes have been lost:

"There are more properties lost, I can't confirm number or location yet, we're beginning a stocktake property by property."

10:47am: Victorian ABC radio reporter Alison Savage tweeted this not long ago:

@alisavage: Gippsland fire was 950 ha at 7pm last night. By 6am had destroyed 20,000 ha. Now 25,000 ha #VicFires

10:37am: The relief centre in Gippsland has moved from the Baptist church - it is now located at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex on Cobains Road in Sale. The centre has already recorded 284 registrations. People are also able to take their horses to the Sale showgrounds.

10:25am: ABC News Breakfast earlier spoke with Clive Murray White, an artist who lives at Cowwarr next to Heyfield. He told Paul Kennedy about his bushfire preparations:

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Cowwarr resident describes bushfire preparations (ABC News)

10:17am: The CFA website is reporting that a fast-moving blaze is also in the Coongulla area, with the wind change now moving in a north-easterly direction. The CFA is warning residents to leave immediately, as their lives and homes are in danger. For the latest information, head to www.cfa.vic.gov.au or call 1800 240 667.

10:15am: This just in from the photo desk:

10:08am: Water bombing aircraft are also being used to try to control the Warrumbungle blaze which has broken containment lines in north-west NSW. The Rural Fire Service has managed to stop it jumping the Newell Highway, but it remains closed. Spokesman Matthew Apps says a number of crews are fighting the blaze:

"A small bit did get out but it is slowly growing in size. Aircraft are now in that location with heavy plant and RFS crews along with National Parks and Forestry at that location now trying to get containment on that outbreak."

10:05am: A south-westerly change is speeding the progress of the fire near Heyfield in Victoria's east. A number of roads have been closed by fallen trees and authorities are warning people to stay away from the area. Country Fire Authority incident controller Laurie Jeremiah says up to 100 homes are in the path of the fire at Seaton and Dawson.

"If they haven't left now they need to be protecting themselves as best as they can on their own properties, and that's what I'm saying we know we've lost one house in the foothills behind Seaton and whilst the people are okay we can't get to them and they can't get out because of the trees over the road.

9:57am: Heyfield residents have spent the night and early morning preparing. The local newsagency's Craig Thatcher says there's a lot of smoke in the town, and ash has been falling.

"It's not thick yet. It's still fairly high, so visibility's still good. We've been awake most of the night. We got our CFA messages fairly early in the night."

9:45am: Carolyn Crossley is defending her property at Cowwarr, near Heyfield. She has told ABC Local Radio that the sky is "filled with smoke".

"The sky goes from a very nasty sort of black, grey with red fringes, to maroon, to purple. Then we get a few, spot a few of the flames up on the hills and going across the paddocks. So it makes you on edge, definitely."

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9:40am: ABC News Breakfast just spoke with Glen Coles from Glenmaggie Caravan Park, who says conditions are "not looking very good at the moment".

"It's very orange and dull. The fire's maybe 500 metres, maybe less from the caravan parks. I haven't seen any spot fires yet. Fortunately the wind has been favouring us all night and blowing parallel with the park. We've had no smoke here or embers. But that's all about to change I think."

Mr Coles says he has remained in the area because he has three caravan parks there.

"I'm just hanging around looking out for spot fires. I have plenty of safe areas between the fire and the lake. The lake is down being an irrigation lake, so there's a lot of bear ground with no vegetation between the water and the fire. So there that's plenty of safe area for me to go."

He says helicopters have been using the lake to pick up water and dump it on the fires.

9:35am: CFA deputy chief officer John Haynes said a little earlier that the Gippsland fire is difficult to attack because of the rugged terrain.

"It's a lot of gullies and valleys and high ridges, so pretty inaccessible sort of country and hard to control. It's in a forested area, it's in a higher alpine area, but the winds are pretty calm at the moment so it's running on its own steam."

9:32am: The bushfire in the Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales also continues to burn. It has broken containment lines, forcing the closure of the Newell Highway. Early this morning it jumped containment lines at Hickey Falls, about 30 kilometres south-west of Coonabarabran, and moved rapidly through open grasslands. The Rural Fire Service says properties are not threatened at this stage, but crews are providing protection. The fire in and around the Warrumbungle National Park has destroyed at least 51 properties and burnt through 47,000 hectares.

Eliza Harvey was on the ground there this morning and filed this report :

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Fire crews still battling blaze near Coonabarabran (ABC News)

9:30am: Below is a map of the region in which the bushfire is burning in south-east Victoria:

Topics: bushfire, fires, disasters-and-accidents, emergency-incidents, emergency-planning, glenmaggie-3858, vic, heyfield-3858, newry-3859, seaton-3858, coonabarabran-2357, nsw

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