Australian bushfires continue

Residents told to leave as fires threaten homes

Residents in the east Victorian town of Licola are being told to consider leaving their homes as a fast moving bushfire fanned by changing wind directions threatens the community.

the Age,

18 January, 2012

The fire in the eastern part of the Baw Baw National Park had grown from 250 hectares on Thursday afternoon to 4200 hectares by the early hours of Friday morning.

Watch-and-act alerts are advising residents in several surrounding towns to activate their bushfire plans ahead of a wind change expected in the early hours of Friday.

A CFA spokeswoman said strong winds had helped fan the fire, making it fast moving and unpredictable.

Smoke could be seen 50 kilometres away, she said.

Residents of Licola have received emergency SMS alerts and are being told to consider leaving the area as soon as possible as the CFA anticipates the blaze will hit Licola Road on Friday.

The CFA warning says the out-of-control fire is expected to impact the towns of Coongulla, Coopers Creek, Cowwarr, Glengarry, Glenmaggie, Heyfield, Licola, Parkers Corner, Seaton, Toongabbie, Glengarry North, Erica and Rawson between 6am and 10am on Friday.

Residents of Maiden Town, Walhalla and Mormon Town are being warned they could be affected by embers from the blaze.

An emergency relief centre has been established at the Sale Baptist Church.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster James Taylor said hot weather overnight combined with gale force winds forecast to hit the region on Friday morning were concerning.

A total fire ban has been declared for the West and South Gippsland, north east, northern country and East Gippsland districts for Friday.