Latest on Lancefield, Cobaw fire

UPDATE 6pm: The Lancefield fire is now impacting on the area west of Lancefield-Toborac Road, between Burke and Wills Track and Martins Road and across to the Ridge Road, Camp Track and Pattons Road area. 

The 4000-hectare fire is travelling in a north and northwesterly direction and is expected to continue to burn overnight.

The blaze has so far claimed four homes, according to reports, with the CFA confirming one house lost.  

UPDATE 5.45pm: The Victorian Environment Department has been labelled the 'Department of Scorched Earth' by furious locals affected by the Lancefield fire. 

Residents have expressed disbelief that a planned burn was lit in the Cobaw State Forest last Wednesday, given hot temperatures were expected for the grand final weekend. 

The fire has burnt 4000 hectares, remains out of control and is threatening homes. 

Facing more than 200 people at a community meeting today, chief fire officer of the Environment Department Alan Goodwin was contrite.

"It's not good enough that this happens," he said.

Read the full story here. 

UPDATE 5.30pm: The CFA says only one home has been confirmed lost, which was a house on Three Chain Road, Cobaw, that went up in flames on Tuesday night.

Spokesman Evan Thomas said impact assessment crews were investigating reports another house had been razed today, but fallen trees forced them to pull out.

He said the number of houses lost could rise once crews inspected areas the fire had gone through. 

"There has been some really good work by fire crews and residents and there's been some fantastic saves," Mr Evans said.

UPDATE 5.11pm: The smoke from the Lancefield fires is visible on satellite pictures from the Bureau of Meteorology. 

UPDATE 4.42pm: Fairfax photographer Penny Stephens is on the ground in Lancefield. 

UPDATE 4.25pm: Channel 7 is reporting at least four homes near Lancefield have been destroyed.

UPDATE 4.20pm: The out-of-control fire in the Benloch area has grown and now covers 4000 hectares, the CFA says. 

The fire is heading towards Baynton and Baynton East, while Nulla Vale, Sidonia, Pastoria and Emu Flat are also at risk. 

A watch and act warning is in place for those areas, with locals being told to leave their homes now before it is too late. 

UPDATE 3.53pm:  A review into the cause of the fire which has engulfed 3000 hectares of land near Lancefield will be undertaken.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the review would be conducted by an independent person.

“A team of people will be brought together to answer the what and the why,” he said.

Earlier this afternoon, angry residents attended a meeting at Lancefield, asking questions about why the state government went ahead with a burn-off despite forecasts of high fire-danger weather.

The controlled burn broke containment lines, threatening hundreds of properties and destroying one home.

Commissioner Lapsley said Victoria was possibly facing its worst ever fire season.

“All of October will have no rain, no moisture,” he said.

“We will see more fires in the Victorian landscape in October than we've probably ever experienced in Victorian history.

“A significant dry period is with us and it’s not going away. There is no rain.”

He said the fire season had arrived much earlier than usual.

“We have now moved into fire season,” he said.

“We’ve had three or four days of extreme temperatures, and excessive winds which have dried the landscape.”

Commissioner Lapsley said yesterday was an “extreme day” across Victoria, with 160 grass and bush fires.

The State Emergency service was called to 300 wind events, the majority of which involved trees down and damage to buildings.

One house was destroyed in the Lancefield fire, following a first which was lost in the Otways on Monday.

Commissioner Lapsley said a “significant amount of fencing” had been destroyed.

Residents at the meeting in Lancefield asked whether they would be compensated for their losses by the government. 

“Over the next few days compensation issues will be discussed with the community,” Commissioner Lapsley said.

Cooler temperatures today were welcomed but winds did not abate, with gusts of 50-60km/h fuelling the fires. 

Commissioner Lapsley said two fire trucks had been damaged in the fires by falling trees. One sustained minor damage and the other was significantly damaged. No firefighters were injured in either incident. 

He said this demonstrated the need for road closures around the fire zones.

“That tells you how risky; how dangerous these firegrounds can be,” he said.

Commissioner Lapsley urged people to be prepared.

“Take it seriously. Primacy of life is the number one principal we say,” he said.

“We need the community of Victoria to understand.”

Commissioner Lapsley paid tribute to CFA, MFB, DELWP and Parks Victoria firefighters who are battling the blazes.

“They’ve done a great job and we applaud for that but this is only start of long long season,” he said.

UPDATE 3.30pm: An address by Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley is scheduled to begin shortly. Watch the live feed here.

UPDATE 3.20pm: A review by the Victorian Inspector-General for Emergency Management made public in May recommended dumping the existing program of 5 per cent burning of public land every year in favour of a new risk reduction focused system.

Read the Bendigo Advertiser’s story on the report here.

UPDATE 3pm: Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley will give an update on the fires at 3.30pm today via Periscope and available here. 

UPDATE 2.42pm: Hundreds of people have attended a community meeting in Lancefield to hear officials discuss the nearby fire, reporter Darren Gray says. 

The room is packed with people of all ages, and the crowd is frustrated, with many people angry that it started from a controlled burn-off. 

"We're angry, we're very angry," one woman said.

UPDATE 2.30pm: Reporter Rania Spooner says a text message has been sent to residents telling them they might not be able to return home after the community meeting which is under way now in Lancefield.

It says: "Bushfire Advice: residents in the fire affected area attending the community meeting will not be able to re-enter property if on a closed road." 

UPDATE 2.10pm: Locals have crammed into the Lancefield Mechanics Institute where a public meeting is being held.

UPDATE 2.10pm: Reporter Rania Spooner is in Benloch, where firefighters are trying to save homes from an out-of-control bushfire fuelled by raging winds. 

About ten properties are at extreme risk south of Benloch, on Sid Smith Lane, after swirling winds caused amber attacks at their rears about 1pm.

All firefighters can do is try to protect these homes because they're unable to get the access to actively fight the fire, said Northern Sector Commander Ian Hay.

He said firefighters have lost ground as the fire's multiple heads continue to rapidly change direction.

"There hasn't been a constant wind direction that we can concentrate on," he said.

Some residents have remained but not all were prepared for what it would take to defend them, he said.

"In the last hour or so we've had this wind get up a bit from the south," Mr Hay said.

"It's moving around quite a bit… its causing all sorts of problems to contain the fire at the moment. We can't get to it."

Meanwhile, a strike team has been sent to the northern head of the fire, which has continued make ground despite firefighters actively fighting for ground and is now moving towards Pastoria.

"I've never seen it like this before, not at this time of year," Mr Hay said.

"We've had erratic fire behaviour all morning due to the winds.

"I've changed tact five times in the past two hours."

Firefighters on the grounds believe the blaze will remain a threat to home until there is some rain.

UPDATE 2pm: Macedon Ranges Shire Council will open a recovery centre will at the Lancefield Mechanics Institute, corner High Street and The Crescent from 4pm-6pm today and on Thursday 8 October and Friday 9 October from 10am-4pm.

It will be staffed by council and other support agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services.

A recovery centre is a place that those impacted by the fire can go for support to begin the recovery process. Staff at recovery centres will be able to provide support and assistance with things such as accommodation, clothing, food, financial aid and help with pets and livestock.

Council’s acting chief executive officer, Dale Thornton said council was co-ordinating a range of support and assistance for residents who have been affected by the fires.

“We recognise that emergencies such as these take an immediate and ongoing emotional, economic and social toll on families and communities and we are here to help our communities recover,” he said.

“Our recovery team are currently working out what support affected communities need, which includes setting up a recovery centre in Lancefield,” he said.

Anyone requiring assistance in recovering from the effects of the fires can call Council on 5422 0333.

UPDATE 1.55pm: A public meeting will be held today, Wednesday, October 7, at 2pm at The Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield.

UPDATE 1.50pm: Reporter Darren Gray is in Lancefield and has described the scene:

A large plume of smoke can be seen heading skyward over the Cobaw State Forest.

On the western edge of the fire, thick smoke is blanketing the edge of the forest and flames can be seen from adjoining private property.

Strong winds from the south are bending over trees, and there are many branches and trees down on roads near the bushfire.

There are also multiple police road blocks around Lancefield, preventing people from driving into dangerous areas.

UPDATE 1.23pm: The fire that began at Cobaw is heading towards Baynton and Baynton East and Emu Flat, Nulla Vale, Pastoria and Sidonia are also at risk.

Residents in Baynton, Baynton East, Nulla Vale, Sidonia and Pastoria have been told the safest option is to leave and not wait. 

The CFA advises where a town is mentioned in two different types of warnings, that locals should take the higher danger warning if in doubt  about which advice applies to them. 

UPDATE 12.50pm: Macedon Ranges Shire Council is asking motorists to avoid travelling in the Cobaw and Lancefield areas until further notice due to bushfire activity.

There are multiple road closures in the area.

Traffic management measures are in place to ensure public safety. There are a number of hazards including falling trees, spot fire activity from the main fire and poor visibility due to smoke. 

Emergency services vehicles are also operating in the area.

Road closures include: 

- Three Chain Road is closed between Mooneys Lane and Baynton Road.

- Burke & Wills Track is closed between Baynton Road to Mission Hill Road through Pastoria and Benloch.

- Mission Hill Road and Emu Flat-Baynton Road are closed between Lancefield-Tooborac Road and Burke and Wills Track.

- Malones Road & Martins Road are closed at the Lancefield-Tooborac Road in Nulla Vale.

Public safety is paramount. These roads will continually be re-assessed but will not be re-opened until public safety can be guaranteed. 

For information about the latest road closures in the area, please monitor alerts.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Anyone requiring assistance in recovering from the effects of the fires can call Council on 5422 0333.

UPDATE 12.30pm: The CFA is issuing telephone warning to people in the Benloch and Baynton area to take shelter.

UPDATE 12.25pm: The CFA has issued an updated watch and act message for Baynton, Baynton East, Nulla Vale, Sidonia and Pastoria.

The fire is heading towards Baynton and Baynton East. 

Emu Flat, Nulla Vale, Pastoria and Sidonia are also at risk.

Don't wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency Services may not be able to help you. Read more from the alert here.

UPDATE 12.20pm: Six areas are now under threat, with the CFA issuing an upgraded emergency warning for Pastoria, Nulla Vale, Baynton and Emu Flat.

The emergency warning still remains for Benloch and Pastoria East.

The fire is continuing to travel in a north and north-westerly direction from Burke and Wills Track and Kitchenhams Road. There is spotting ahead of the main fire.

The fire is currently impacting or about to impact the following roads: Kitchenhams Road, Frosts Road, Feeneys Lane, Malones Road, Youngs Road, and Nicholls Lane.

You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.

Safety Information

When indoors:

If you cannot get indoors, other last resort options include:

In the car:

If you are travelling, do not enter the area, U-turn to safety.

If you are away from home, do not return.

For life or property threatening emergencies call 000

If you need medical advice for burns or smoke exposure call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024

Stay Informed:

UPDATE 11am: The CFA has issued an updated emergency warning for Benloch and Pastoria East. 

The fire is approximately 3000 hectares in size and is currently impacting or about to impact Kitchenhams Road, Frosts Road, Feeneys Road, Malones Road, Youngs Road, and Nicholls Lane.

It is travelling in a north & north westerly direction from Burke & Wills Track.  

You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.

There are multiple road closures in the area:

Traffic Management measures are in place to ensure public safety. There are a number of hazards including falling trees, spot fire activity from the main fire and poor visibility due to smoke. Emergency services vehicles are also operating in the area.

Public safety is paramount. These roads will continually be re-assessed but will not be re-opened until public safety can be guaranteed. 

A community meeting will be held today, Wednesday, October 7, at 2pm at The Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield.

UPDATE 10.50am: The relief centre in Gisborne was closed last night after the small handful of people who required assistance were found temporary accommodation.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council will monitor the situation and reopen the centre if necessary, a spokesperson said.

Anyone impacted by the fires who requires support can still contact the council on 5422 0333.

A community meeting will be held today, Wednesday, October 7, at 2pm at The Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield.

UPDATE 10.11am: Crews are actively defending about 80 homes and a school camp that are under threat in the Benloch area. 

CFA Lancefield spokesman John Pearce has told The Age that although there was only one home confirmed to have been lost, the status of several properties was not yet known and impact assessment teams would be to go in to some areas later today.

Firefighters are waiting for powerful winds to die down before they are able to attack the fire more effectively with heavy equipment like bulldozers and air wing, Mr Pearce said.

"We're hoping they can contain it today but there's going to be several days here before they can mop it up after that," he said.

UPDATE 10.10am: Premier Daniel Andrews has said it was a "really sad situation" that a house, sheds and fencing had been destroyed by the fires, The Age is reporting. 

"We'll be there with them to help them rebuild, to help them repair and to provide them with the support that they need," Mr Andrews said. 

He added there would be a full investigation into how the fire that started as a controlled burn jumped containment lines. 

UPDATE 10am: The relief centre in Gisborne has been closed. Anyone impacted by the fires who requires support can contact the Macedon Ranges Shire Council on 5422 0333.

UPDATE 9.30am: Helicopter pilots water-bombing the fire front helped rescue sheep at Edgar’s Mission yesterday, Pam Ahern from Edgar’s Mission told radio station 3AW this morning.

"We had a fire actually come from the south ... which is where our sheep were, and I was trying to herd them up a paddock and they were getting really scared because the helicopters were getting water out of the dams either side of them,” she said.

"One of the chopper pilots could see what was happening and he actually came around and came up behind the sheep and he started to herd them towards me.

"Once the sheep saw me and I called out to them, they came running and I could get them out of the paddock."

UPDATE 9.20am: Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that the 80-year-old missing during the Lancefield fire has been found and is safe.

UPDATE 9.15am: Anger is mounting among the Lancefield community about the controlled burn-off that sparked the huge bushfire now threatening 200 homes, The Age reports.

Veterinarian Miesja Reynolds who runs the Lancefield Equine Clinic says she's "extremely angry".

"It's a disaster really," she says.

"It's cleared out a lot of debris that's built up over the years, but it should not have happened like this. It should have been done when it was a lot cooler.

"We haven't lost our house, but we've lost five kilometres worth of fencing."

The Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt told 3AW yesterday he intended to write a "please explain" letter to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews about the burn off.

Mary Delahunty, former Labor MP, who has a small property at Cobaw told The Age she was “furious that this so-called controlled burn endangered us again, twice in three days”.

“Someone in the department must be accountable for the fear, the anxiety, the loss of property. I don't know how much more was lost overnight, but thousands and thousands of hectares, people evacuated, a house gone near me, and for what reason?

"This happened in 2003 and I was minister in the then-called Department of Sustainability and I can remember being on the top of our little house with the sprinklers in the raging wind and the radio on loudly below me ... and we were ringed by fire on the fringe.

"This time, someone must be accountable."

"There's a lot of anger in the community. 

“I do want to say a warm and big thank you to all the volunteers and then all night last night. They've kept everyone safe.

"The smoke was horrendous, the sight was frightening, but the wind took it away from our property, but we didn't know that until the day wore on."

UPDATE 9.10am: The CFA has issued an updated emergency warning for Benloch and Pastoria East. 

The fire is still travelling in a north/north-westerly direction from Burke & Wills Track towards Youngs Road, Frosts Road and Nicholls Lane.

If you are in the area, you are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

The fire is still impacting Kitchenhams Road between Frosts Road and Feeneys Road / Malones Road.

The major roads in the area remain closed and will not be reopened until they have been assessed during the day.

UPDATE 8.55am: One person is still unaccounted for, a CFA spokesperson said.

A community meeting will be held today, Wednesday, October 7, at 2pm at The Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield.

A relief centre has been set up at the Gisborne Community Centre in Hamilton Street, Gisborne.

“If you are leaving or travelling near a fire-affected area to attend a relief centre, make sure that it is safe to do so and plan your route carefully by accessing the latest emergency information issued by the CFA,” deputy mayor Russell Mowatt said. 

“Right now there is an emergency unfolding in our region so I would encourage everyone to work together as a community and help each other through this.

“Remember, it’s really important to follow the advice of the emergency agencies while the emergency is unfolding. Council does not issue emergency information, the CFA does.” 

UPDATE 8.45am: The emergency warning for Baynton East has been downgraded, but is still in place for Benloch and Pastoria East.

The watch and act message is still in place for Baynton, Emu Flat and Nulla Vale.

The CFA has also issued an updated advice message for Cobaw, Rochford and Lancefield saying the fire activity in Three Chain Road and south of Burke & Wills Track has subsided however the fire is currently not yet under control.

UPDATE 8.25am: The CFA has issued an updated emergency warning for Benloch, Pastoria East, Baynton East.

The fire is now travelling in a north/north-westerly direction from Burke & Wills Track towards Youngs Road, Frosts Road and Nicholls Lane.

If you are in the area, you are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

The fire is still impacting Kitchenhams Road between Frosts Road and Feeneys Road / Malones Road.

The major roads in the area remain closed and will not be reopened until they have been assessed during the day.

EARLIER: One person is unaccounted for and one home has been lost as a 3000-hectare fire still burns near Lancefield.

The fast moving, out-of-control fire is travelling in a northerly direction from Burke & Wills Track towards Youngs Road, Frosts Road and Nicholls Lane.

There is an emergency warning in place for Benloch, Pastoria East, Baynton East – you are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

There is a watch and act message in place for Baynton, Nulla Vale and Emu Flat – don't wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency Services may not be able to help you.

The fire is currently impacting Kitchenhams Road between Frosts Road and Feeneys Road / Malones Road.

CFA incident controller Greg Murphy told 3AW there were about 200 houses within the fire area. 

“Unfortunately we've had one confirmed loss and there's a possibility that might increase today when we get daylight," he told radio station 3AW.

A CFA spokesperson said there was one unaccounted person who had been disconnected from their family.

Firefighters worked through the night battling the blaze with 50 resources currently fighting the fire and 11 aircraft helping across the state. 

Three Chain Road between Mooneys Lane and Baynton Road is closed due to falling trees.

A community meeting will be held today, Wednesday, October 7, at 2pm at The Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield.

A relief centre has been set up at the Gisborne Community Centre in Hamilton Street, Gisborne.

CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY’S COVERAGE

CFA crews were called to more than 160 fires across the state yesterday.  

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said yesterday 190 properties were at risk from the Lancefield fire, with residents urged to leave.

Mr Lapsley says the Lancefield fire was set last Wednesday by the Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning on public land.

It jumped containment lines in hot, blustery conditions on Saturday and yesterday, dry heat and strong winds caused it to rapidly burn out-of-control, forcing evacuations as it neared property.

An emergency warning was issued at 2pm, after the blaze jumped the Three Chain Road and raced towards Lancefield. The south-westerly wind change about 4pm pushed the fire in a north-easterly direction towards Benloch and Nulla Vale.

Non-profit farm sanctuary Edgar's Mission was under threat before the wind change, with fire burning on the nearby Bridies Lane.

“We are safe for now as the wind has moved the fire north east but the fire is still out of control! Our thoughts go out to everyone in that direction, all the wildlife and the courageous CFA volunteers trying to put it out!,” the sanctuary posted to its Facebook page.

An afternoon wind change is believed to have saved the Lancefield home of Adam Watkins and partner Prue Mathiesen.

Their 100-acre rental property is surrounded by a section of the Cobaw State Forest which was ravaged by the fire on Tuesday.

At one point the blaze had taken hold of their veranda and was slowly crawling up nearby trees.

"The wind was going a million miles an hour," said Ms Mathiesen.

"You just thought 'where do I start?'"

Mr Watkins said he was about to flee the area – having packed up the dogs and doused them in water – before the wind mercifully changed direction.

Two choppers also hammered away at the fire and a crew from the Carlsruhe CFA arrived to help.

"It was very very bad," said Mr Watkins.

"The fire was coming across the house. The only thing that saved it was the wind direction."

At around 8pm, small fires were still licking at the property. Ms Mathiesen said they would be sleeping in shifts as the night wore on, keeping an anxious eye for spot fires.

Mr Lapsley said the early start to the bushfire season would test emergency services but assured Victorians that fire authorities were prepared. 

- Bendigo Advertiser with The Age