Residents and tourists in Cape Otway, south-west of Victoria, have been told to take shelter immediately as an out-of-control bushfire rages through the region.
“There is a bushfire on Blanket Bay Road, Cape Otway, which is out of control,” said the warning issued by VicEmergency at 7am on Wednesday.
‘The wildfire is moving west towards Lighthouse Road.
“It is too late to leave the area safely, so you should seek shelter now.”
However, Forest Fire Management Victoria fire chief Chris Hardiman said a group of campers were unable to get out safely.
‘In fact, we have around 100 campers at the Blanket Bay campsite who are isolating. “It’s just not safe to take them out right now,” he said. ABC Radio Melbourne.
Hardiman said the campers were not in any danger and that 22 other people had also been relocated to the Cape Otway light station.
‘They are very safe there. They carry firefighting resources with them, so there is no immediate danger.
“There is a bushfire on Blanket Bay Road, Cape Otway, which is out of control,” said the warning issued by VicEmergency at 7am on Wednesday.
About 100 campers at Blanket Bay campsite in Cape Otway have been isolated due to the fire.
An evacuation center has been established at the Apollo Bay Community Hall, on Whelan Street, Apollo Bay.
As of 8.15am on Wednesday, there were two wildfires out of control in the Cape Otway area, according to VicEmergency.
A fire on Red Hill Track covered 11 hectares and 6 fire crews responded.
And at another smaller fire on Lighthouse Road 22 crews responded.
It comes as tourism operators and farmers call for more support to recover after another bushfire in Victoria that destroyed homes and killed hundreds of animals.
The Grampians National Park fire was declared contained on Monday after burning for three weeks.
The fire burned 76,000 hectares of land and paralyzed holiday tourism in western Victoria.
The park remains closed but residents can return to their properties.
More to come…