Grampians bushfire likely to burn into new year as homes losses expected to rise, as another fire in WA prompts evacuations

Property losses are expected to mount after a huge bushfire claimed at least three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings in Victoria as a new blaze threatens lives and homes in Western Australia.

Cooler conditions have brought some relief to fire crews battling a blaze in Victoria’s Grampians region but residents threatened by a bushfire in WA’s Mid West have been urged to “leave now”.

In the Grampians, emergency crews will continue impact assessments in affected areas where a blaze with a perimeter of more than 380km has so far scorched more than 75,000 hectares.

Dry conditions and difficult, mountainous terrain mean the fire is likely to burn into the new year but cooler, settled conditions are providing fire crews the opportunity to try to contain the blaze.

Three homes have been confirmed lost in Moyston, a rural farming community on the edge of the Grampians National Park, as of early Saturday evening.

Another 11 outbuildings have also destroyed by the fire across Moyston and Pomonal, which was devastated by fire earlier in 2024.

On the other side of the nation residents of several communities in WA’s Mid West have been urged to leave as an uncontrolled bushfire approaches.

An emergency warning is in place for parts of of Mount Adams, Irwin, Mount Horner and Yardarino and an evacuation centre has been set up at Dongara.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warning says.

In Victoria, State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said there was still a lot of work to be done to confirm the Grampian fire’s damage.

“These numbers will continue to evolve over the next couple of days,” Hegarty said.

There have been significant livestock losses, particularly sheep.

Three watch and act alerts remained in place in and around western Victoria’s Grampians National Park as night fell on Saturday, with the area from Long Gully Road to College Road remaining safe.

Residents from Halls Gap have also been allowed to return home.

Conditions in western Victoria are expected to remain mild before westerly winds give way to warmer northerlies on Monday.

Hardship payments have become available for people with homes in evacuation areas or who have suffered property damage, via the state and federal-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister said the assistance included a one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child up to a maximum of $2380 per eligible family to help cover essentials such as food, clothing, medication and accommodation.

No total fire bans are in place in NSW on Sunday but high fire danger remains for the Northern Slopes, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Greater Hunter and Sydney regions.

“We do have heatwave conditions continuing, and warnings current for northeastern parts of NSW and much of Queensland,” weather bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said.

A number of fires are burning or have recently been contained in NSW.