Homes at risk and residents told it’s too late to leave as winds fuel fire 65km east of Melbourne

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Four bushfires in Victoria’s east have joined into a raging blaze, putting lives and homes at risk as winds fuel the out-of-control fire.

The fires merged at Bunyip state park near Tonimbik, about 65km east of Melbourne, causing a blaze of about 3,400 hectares in size, incident controller Ivan Smith said on Saturday.

An emergency warning has been issued, with residents told it’s too late to leave.

The warning applies to Bunyip, Bunyip North, Cornucopia, Garfield, Garfield North, Gembrook, Gentle Annie, Labertouche, Longwarry, Longwarry North, Maryknoll, Nar Nar Goon, Nar Nar Goon North, Tonimbuk, Tynong and Tynong North.

About 300 firefighters and emergency workers are fighting the fire, which was started by multiple lightening strikes on 1 March, Smith said.

Air support is attempting to tackle the fire. Local Country Fire Authority crews are being supported by bulldozers and graders.

Farther east, a bushfire at Dargo was also announced as being out of control on Saturday.

Dargo was expected to be hit by bushfires on Saturday afternoon, with an emergency warning issued to residents of Black Snake Creek, Cowa, Crooked River, Dargo, Gibbs, Hawkhurst, Maguires and Miowera.

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Six water-bombing aircraft were deployed, while heavy machinery was used to establish control lines between the fire and private properties.

“Although the progress of this fire has slowed, there is still the threat that this bushfire could impact Dargo any time in the next two hours,” an alert said just before 3pm.

A total fire ban has been declared across Victoria for Sunday. The weather bureau expecting another hot and dry day with temperatures in the 40s for the north of the state.

“This is the hottest start to autumn in 30 years, following the hottest summer on record,” senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said.

“The forecast is for very hot temperatures continuing for the rest of the weekend without much relief from the heat overnight. This means that if we have fires in the landscape they could challenge firefighters.”