The CFA have advised that there are two fires caused by lightning strikes on Saturday 19/12/15 that are burning out of control in difficult terrain in the Great Otway National Park near Lorne and Wye River. Extra fire firefighters are being rushed to the Great Ocean Road to tackle these ahead of another heatwave and influx of visitors during the Christmas holidays.

Quote from CFA spokesman in todays Geelong Advertiser " This is a high priority for us to control them as soon as possible given that we have the Christmas period coming up and the Otway's coast is a pretty popular area for tourism. We are not telling people to stay away but people need to make sure that they stay tuned to local radio and stay informed about the fire conditions".

Towns along the Great Ocean Road will be a hive of activity as well the Falls Festival will be on near Lorne on New Years Eve. Smoke will be visible from local towns and the Great ocean Road.

•Via www.emergency.vic.gov.au

•Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV.

•Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667.

•Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.

•For help with English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to telephone VBIL. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.

•Download the FireReady App or follow Vic Emergency on Twitter (#VicFires) or Facebook.

•Road closures: check VicRoads website.

Yes this is a good reminder of the conditions that tourist need to be aware of traveling in Australia and in particular in summer in Victoria and NSW

http://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

The GOR road is closed. 53 homes lost around Lorne & Wye River, Separation Creek.

Updated 07:09 - 26/12/15

From our friends on TA, some of whom are in the spot:

Famrick · yesterday, 18:49
Anakie, Australia · 3,096 forum posts
#11 of 13 ·
Lorne is being evacuated and the authorities have indicated they don't want anyone travelling down the GOR or the Otway's at least for the next few days until the danger has passed.

And what!! People were still lighting open fires in the open down your way on a day like this OMG.

The Vic emergency and Vic roads websites have indicated that the GOR has now been closed from the Bellbrae Roundabout - Skenes Creek.

As soon as the authorities tell you to evacuate I'd get out and head for Torquay as quick as you safely can.

Good luck with this stay as safe as you can.

Lets know how you get on if you can.

Reply

thmoore · today, 2:30
sydney · 15,049 forum posts
#12 of 13 ·
bumping

and fingers crossed that you are getting rained on ...

visitors should remember that bushfires are not tourist attractions - you place your own lives and those of emergency services in danger by venturing into fire areas. Stay safe everyone and heed the warnings issued by emergency services.

stay safe Famrik and Happy Christmas from Cambodia

103 houses destroyed so far. When I woke and heard the rain this morning I could smell the smoke and ash. We are in Melbourne but the grass fire on the outskirts of Melbourne would have added to it.
hottest Xmas day for 20 years.

Oh dear god Northie, not another Feb 2009! Best of luck to everyone down there. What a terrible Christmas.

I do hope this is under control before long without further loss. A disappointment for those who have holiday plans in the area, but a tragedy for those who have lost their homes and have fears for the lives of themselves and their loved ones.

116 homes gone - warnings downgraded but fire not yet under control.heat starting going up again to 39 this week

Shocking news about the fires, such a tragedy but no lives lost. It could have been so much worse. Tourists are being urged not to stay away as it will only hurt the coastal communities.

This was on the ABC news website on 27 Dec:

People planning to holiday on Victoria's Surf Coast have been urged to go ahead with their plans following a devastating bushfire in the area.

Holidaymakers are now able to return to the popular beach town of Lorne after a large section of the Great Ocean Road was closed as fire crews battled a blaze that destroyed more than 100 homes.

It remains closed between Skenes Creek and Lorne.

Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said it was important for the local economy that people still visited the towns along the Surf Coast this summer.

"It's really important that people understand that Lorne is open for business, in that thriving community, and it's terrific for people to get down there," she said.

"Make sure you enjoy your time on the surf coast, this fire has been downgraded.

"But like anytime in Victoria's summer, keep an eye out on the FireReady app or listen to the radio, make sure you know the warnings in the area and act accordingly."

The Mayor of the Colac-Otways Shire, Frank Buchanan, said a fall in visitors to the area would be a devastating blow to the communities along the Great Ocean Road, as the summer provided the biggest financial windfall for businesses.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-2...summer/7055298

Kay