Australia: Emergency crews responding to bushfire near Beaufort in Victoria as of late Feb. 22

Emergency crews are working to contain a bushfire burning near Beaufort in Victoria as of late Feb. 22. The fire broke out in Mount Buangor State Park at around 10:00 and as of late Feb. 22 it was located near Bayindeen-Rocky Road and moving uncontrolled in a southeasterly direction. The fire has grown to around 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) and around 1,000 firefighting personnel are on-site tackling the blaze. An emergency warning advising people to leave before conditions become too dangerous has been issued for multiple locations in the vicinity of the fire, including the towns of Beaufort and Raglan. Watch and act warnings also advising people to leave have been issued for surrounding areas. Relief centers have been established at CE Brown Reserve, 236-296 Dowling Street, Wendouree and Alexander Oval Community Center, Waratah Avenue, Ararat. Several roads in the affected areas have been closed, including sections of the Sunraysia and Western highways. Authorities could issue new warnings or upgrade/rescind existing warnings as the fire develops over the coming hours and days; the latest information regarding warnings and advice can be found here.

The bushfire may continue to cause some road closures and localized transport disruptions in the affected area. Depending on the progression of the bushfire, the status of nearby roads could change over the coming hours and days. Authorities could close additional routes within the bushfire complex and evacuate more communities due to fire activity and the needs of response operators. The return of residents could disrupt traffic flows after authorities lift evacuation orders. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall could contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region. Power outages are possible if fires damage power infrastructure. Authorities may cut off power to parts of the affected area to aid firefighting efforts.

Smoke from fires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees, plants, and possibly building materials. Such smoke can hurt eyes, irritate the respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Smoke may also worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).