Residents told it’s too late to leave as fire threatens homes in Victoria’s west

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Another emergency warning to evacuate followed about an hour later for the Grampians, Mirranatwa and Victoria Valley, south of the campground. A watch and act alert was also in effect for Cranage and Zumsteins in the national park’s north.

A total fire ban is active for the Mallee, Wimmera, South-West, North-Central and Central forecast areas, the latter of which includes Melbourne. An extreme fire-danger rating has been issued for these zones.

Strong northerly winds of more than 45km/h pushed temperatures in Melbourne beyond 40 degrees on Monday.

Point Cook recorded a top of 42 degrees about 3.30pm and was still sitting on that temperature about 5.10pm. Half an hour later, it had plummeted to 27 degrees.

Melbourne’s Olympic Park weather station recorded 39 degrees at 5.40pm, before the cool change about 15 minutes later.

The temperature at Olympic Park dropped 10 degrees in the 15 minutes to 6.10pm and was sitting at 27 degrees by 6.30pm.

“[Melbourne’s weather] will likely cool off several more degrees this evening,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said. “The overnight minimum is forecast to be 17.”

Parts of the state’s north-west were among the hottest areas on Monday, with Mildura hitting 44 degrees. Elsewhere, Geelong Racecourse recorded a high of 42 degrees.

The Little Desert fire which was burning out of control on Monday.Credit: State Control Centre

State Control Centre spokesman Luke Heagerty said much of Victoria was experiencing hot, dry and windy conditions, and dry lightning was moving through parts of the state including the Little Desert National Park.

“In particular for tourists and campers in that area, our advice is to leave now,” Heagerty said.

“This fire is growing quickly and burning through the national park, and the best place for you to be is away from the park.”

Crews were trying to slow the spread of fire but, given the area’s dryness and the strength of the winds, the blaze could reach private land, Heagerty said.

A severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds was also issued for parts of the Central, East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland forecast districts on Monday evening.

“So we’re not out of the woods yet. We’re expecting the next few hours will be a challenge for us,” Heagerty said.

“Thankfully, behind that wind change, we do see cooler temperatures and some much higher humidity, but it will be important that our crews get a chance to really tackle those fires that have started this afternoon.”

About 4.15pm, AusNet reported about 5300 customers were without power.

Early morning walkers in Elwood were greeted with an unusual sight on Monday: a four-wheel drive became bogged on the beach’s shoreline.

Today reporter Christine Ahern was reporting about the weather forecast when a cameraman spotted the car stuck on the water’s edge around dawn.

The driver, Mohammed, appeared on a live cross later, telling Ahern he was from NSW and was confident he could get his car out of the sand. “People go to the moon. All those things get done. Am I going to be able to get a car out of the water? Come on,” he said.

A bulldozer later towed the car away.

Elsewhere, metropolitan firefighters were kept busy overnight as a blaze destroyed a house in Lady Nelson Way, Taylors Lakes, about 3am.

In a statement, Fire Rescue Victoria said a “significant structural collapse” initially stopped crews from entering the two-storey home, but they eventually declared the fire under control at 3.43am.

The aftermath of the fire in Taylors Lakes on Monday morning.

The aftermath of the fire in Taylors Lakes on Monday morning.Credit: Paul Rovere

“It has not been established if there was anyone inside. However, there are signs of [the house] being abandoned,” FRV said.

With Roy Ward

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