Victoria faced some of the worst bushfire conditions seen since the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer blazes on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. Firefighters battled to contain massive fires threatening the Grampians national park, Bullengarook, the Gurdies and Creswick as a dangerous combination of soaring temperatures and strong winds developed across the state.
The Grampians bushfire has already scorched over 55,000 hectares after burning for several days. Thick smoke blanketed Halls Gap and surrounding areas as the out-of-control blaze edged closer to the popular tourist destination. Incident controller at Forest Fire Management Victoria, Peter Roberts, warned that the erratic fire behavior made it too dangerous for crews to directly attack the fire front in some areas.
This is a very challenging and complex fire…we have a long way to go to contain it.
– Peter Roberts, Forest Fire Management Victoria
Authorities Warn of Inevitable Property Losses
An emergency warning, the highest alert level, was issued for Bullengarook, near Gisborne, as a bushfire bore down on the township on Thursday afternoon. Firefighters managed to prevent the blaze from impacting properties, but authorities cautioned that if the fire intensifies again, losses will be unavoidable.
Blazes also flared up in the state’s southwest near the coastal hamlet of the Gurdies and at Creswick, north of Ballarat. Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said that all but one region of Victoria faced extreme fire risk on Dec. 26.
I want to be really, really clear…We are in a critical part of the day. If you’re in any of those areas and you can see smoke or fire, you need to enact your plan now.
– Jason Heffernan, Country Fire Authority
Dangerous Summer Fire Season Unfolding
As the intense fire conditions develop, it’s becoming clear that Victoria and other parts of southern Australia are in the grips of another dangerous summer season of bushfires and extreme weather. The 2024 blazes have already drawn comparisons to the catastrophic 2019-20 bushfires that burned over 18 million hectares.
- Dangerous forecast: Temperatures over 40°C, low humidity, and strong winds
- Massive scale: Over 55,000 hectares burned so far in the Grampians alone
- Tourist areas at risk: Halls Gap and Grampians under threat
- Statewide danger: Extreme fire risk in all regions except one
After the tragedies of past bushfire seasons, Australians are facing the sobering reality that these unprecedented fire events may be the new normal in a hotter, drier climate. As 2024 comes to a close in a haze of smoke and ash, communities are once again forced to confront the growing challenges of living on a continent that is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The coming days and weeks will be critical as firefighters work around the clock to keep the flames at bay. Residents in bushfire prone areas are urged to stay informed, heed the advice of emergency services, and have a bushfire survival plan ready. While the road ahead looks long and uncertain, Victorians have proven their resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity before. Together, they will weather this latest trial and begin to rebuild from the ashes once more.
