‘Not out of the woods’: Residents told to evacuate as firefighters face dangerous conditions

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 recorded some of the highest temperatures on Monday, with Mildura hitting 44 degrees.

Elsewhere, Geelong Racecourse recorded a high of 42 degrees.

A watch and act alert urging residents to leave now was in effect for other communities in and around the Little Desert fire as of Monday evening, including Kinimakatka, Winiam West, Duchembegarra, Cooack and Nurcoung.

A leave-now alert for Minimay and Peronne, south of the Little Desert fire, was issued about 4.30pm, and later expanded to include Goroke. A watch and act alert issued for a grass fire at Rokewood was later downgraded to advice-level for people in Shelford and Warrambine.

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 the 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.

Heagerty described Monday as a “reverse Boxing Day” as holidaymakers headed home after the long weekend, rather than travelling away from home as many did on December 26.

“Lots of people on the road today means people need to be aware of conditions around them,” he said.

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 hot 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.

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