Victorians urged to take shelter as heatwave conditions causes bushfire to flare

Residents in Victoria's south-west are being told to take shelter immediately after an existing bushfire in the Otways flared up yesterday.

An intense heat band that swept the state yesterday put pressure on multiple infernos across the state.

Authorities have warned a bushfire burning out of control at Carlisle River has grown overnight and is within one kilometre of Gellibrand.

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https://x.com/vicemergency/status/2015134247817015584?s=46&t=cEzraAkIJjokwmcV4Qu_MQ

The blaze is travelling from the west of Gellibrand in an easterly direction towards the town.

Residents in Gellibrand and Carlisle River are warned to take immediate shelter.

"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive," the emergency warning issued by Fire Forest Management Victoria.

"If you have not left, the safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately."

An emergency bushfire warning has been issued for a blaze burning in south-west Victoria.The Carlisle River in Gellibrand fire is heading south from the intersection of Carlisle River Road and Walls-Skinner Track.

Residents in Barongarook West, Carlisle River, Gellibrand, Irrewillipe and Irrewillipe East were urged to evacuate last night as the fire moved in a southerly direction.

Aircraft and emergency response crews spent the night trying to quell the spread of the fire.

The fire was spurred on by sweltering conditions across Victoria yesterday, which marked the start of a potentially record-breaking run of heatwave conditions.

There are several other watch and act warnings in place across Victoria, including for fires burning at Walwa in the state's north-east, and at Dargo in Gippsland.

The mercury surpassed 38 degrees in both Melbourne and the south-west of the state yesterday, while temperatures soared into the 40s in the Mallee region. 

While the south-west coast is expected to receive a reprieve from the heat today, temperatures in northern Victoria will continue to soar.

A Total Fire Ban has been declared today for the Northern Country, North Central, North East and East Gippsland districts.

An extreme fire danger rating is in place for the North East.



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