THURSDAY: Watch crews battle the Allendale and Broomfield fire from late on Thursday.
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The near-20-minute video is courtesy of Ballarat TV.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
HOW THE COURIER REPORTED THE FIRE AS IT HAPPENED:
UPDATE, 8.12pm: The fire has officially been classified as contained.
Around an hour and a half after it began, the blaze has been brought under control.
The damage caused by the blaze remains unknown, however early reports say at least one property in the area has been destroyed.
Advice has been released for the region, with a warning remaining in place advising locals to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles which will be active in the area overnight.
UPDATE, 7.55pm: The CFA is turning away extra vehicles headed towards the blaze.
There are already as many as 46 vehicles present across the Allendale and Broomfield fires.
UPDATE, 7.02pm: A new watch and act message has been issued for not just Allendale, Broomfield and Kingston but also for Creswick, Newlyn, Smeaton, Smokeytown and Springmount.
This is in addition to the emergency warning still in place.
39 vehicles have been dispatched to the incident so far.
Residents are being told to leave now - conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
UPDATE, 6.46pm: Broomfield residents have been told "leaving now may not be safe".
Almost 20 units are now on scene, with a strike team on its way.
What you should do
- When you leave take your pets, medications, mobile phone and charger.
Travel to:
- The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area.
In the car:
- If you are travelling, do not enter the area. U-turn to safety.
- Slow down and turn on your headlights; smoke will make it difficult to see.
Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
If you are unable to leave seek shelter indoors:
- Close all exterior doors, windows and vents.
- Turn off cooling systems.
- You must take shelter before the fire arrives. The extreme heat is likely to kill you well before the flames reach you.
- Shelter in a room that has two exits, such as a door or window, including one directly to the outside. It is important to be able to see outside so you know what is happening with the fire.
- If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.
Impacts in your area:
- Roads in the area may be affected.
- Do not travel through smoke.
WATCH A VIDEO OF THE SMOKE BELOW
EARLIER: The town of Allendale is 'under great threat' after an out-of-control blaze took off in high winds late this afternoon.
The grass fire started about 6.10pm near the corner of West Berry Road and Bailey Street in Allendale and has since continued to spread.
The fire is believed to be around 150 metres in length while spreading in a southerly direction towards Smokeytown.
A south-westerly wind change is imminent, which will push the fire east towards Kingston.
Extra resources are being diverted into Allendale, with one emergency service worker saying the town was 'under great threat'.
Smoke is hampering visibility for emergency service workers. Thirteen units have been dispatched to the incident.
It remains unclear what caused the blaze.
An emergency warning has just been issued for Allendale, Broomfield and Kingston.
Leaving now is the safest option for residents.
What you should do:
Travel to:
- Residents of Allendale head in a northerly direction away from the fire.
- The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area.
- When you leave remember to take your pets, mobile phone and medications.
In the car:
- If you are travelling, do not enter the area. U-turn to safety.
- Slow down and turn on your headlights. Smoke will make it difficult to see.
If you are unable to leave you should shelter indoors:
- Close all exterior doors, windows and vents. Turn off cooling systems.
- You must take shelter before the fire arrives. The extreme heat is likely to kill you well before the flames reach you.
- Shelter in a room that has two exits, such as a door or window including one directly to the outside. It is important to be able to see outside so you know what is happening with the fire.
- If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.
If you cannot get indoors, other last resort options include:
- Shelter in the middle of a large open area like a ploughed paddock, football oval or sporting reserve.
- Get into a large body of water like a dam, lake, river, the ocean or inground pool.
- Try to protect yourself from the fire's heat.
If you are caught in fire in your car:
- Park behind a solid structure to block the fire's heat or pull over to cleared area.
- Try to position the car towards the approaching fire.
- Turn on your hazard lights and headlights.
- Close all windows.
- Turn off the air-conditioning and shut all the air vents.
- Turn your car engine off.
- Get down as low as possible below window level and cover up with a pure woollen blanket.
Embers are being carried by the wind large distances ahead of the main fire and starting spot fires.Trees can be extremely hazardous during a bushfire or high winds. Avoid standing, parking or travelling areas in of fire affected trees.
Trees can fall across roads and cause dangerous driving conditions.
This message was issued by Country Fire Authority.
Health information:
- If you need medical advice for burns or exposure to smoke, seek medical advice or call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.
- Anyone experiencing wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing should call Triple Zero (000).
If you can see or smell smoke, please note:
- Smoke can affect people's health.
- People with pre-existing health problems, heart or lung conditions (including asthma), children, pregnant women and older people are more sensitive to the effects of breathing in smoke.
- People with existing heart or lung conditions (including asthma) should follow the treatment plan advised by the doctor.
Use multiple sources to stay informed:
- www.emergency.vic.gov.au.
- VicEmergency Hotline - freecall 1800 226 226.
- VicEmergency app.
- Facebook or Twitter (#vicfires).
- Tune in to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV.
Accessibility:
The following services can help you, or someone you know, access information during an emergency.
- To access this information in other languages call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to call VicEmergency Hotline.
- If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment contact National Relay Service on 1800 555 677 and ask them to call the VicEmergency Hotline.
More to come.
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