Longwood fire still out of control — stay informed and prepare to leave if necessary
Today is not a day to be complacent if you are anywhere near a fire. Keep an eye on VicEmergency, via the app or website, and be prepared to leave, if necessary.
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Always use more than one source to stay informed. Tune in to ABC News, Sky News, local and community radio. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter (X).
At 9am it was already hot, dry and windy, with an out-of-control fire burning between Seymour, Euroa and Mansfield — being referred to as the Longwood fire.
Advice has been changing since the fire started. If you are in a warning area and are advised to leave, get out as soon as you can.
There are currently 10 advice areas around the fire.
There is a Take Shelter Now Emergency Warning for:
Caveat, Creightons Creek, Dropmore, Gobur, Gooram, Highlands, Kanumbra, Kelvin View, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Strathbogie, Tarcombe, Terip Terip and Upton Hill.
There are Leave Immediately Emergency Warnings for:
Ancona, Fawcett, Gooram, Merton, Strathbogie, Strathbogie South, Woodfield, Cathkin, Caveat, Ghin Ghin, Highlands, Kanumbra, Killingworth, Koriella, Limestone, Molesworth, Whanregarwen and Yarck.
There are Watch and Act - Prepare to Leave Warnings for:
Creighton, Creightons Creek, Euroa, Kithbrook, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Pranjip, Sheans Creek, Acheron, Limestone, Taggerty, Whanregarwen, Yea, Barjarg, Bonnie Doon, Creek Junction, Dry Creek, Maindample, Mansfield, Tallangallook and Too-rour.
There is Stay Informed Advice for:
Avenel, Kerrisdale, Trawool, Whiteheads Creek, Boho South, Harrys Creek, Kithbrook, Lima, Lima East, Marraweeney, Violet Town, Warrenbayne, Acheron, Devils River, Eildon, Snobs Creek, Taylor Bay and Thornton.
Take Shelter Now Emergency Warning advice
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.
What you should do:
Move indoors:
- Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from pure cotton or wool. Wear leather boots.
- Bring your pets inside.
- Close all exterior doors, windows and vents and 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:
- Move away from the rooms that are on fire, closing doors behind you.
- As soon as the bushfire has passed the house, or conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt. Staying inside a burning building will almost certainly end in death.
- It may still be too hot to remain outside, so you will need to seek shelter in another structure or last resort option.
If you cannot get indoors, 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 in-ground pool.
- Try to protect yourself from the fire's heat.
If you are travelling:
- If you are travelling, do not enter the warning area. Make a U-turn and travel to safety.
- If you are currently driving slow down and turn on your headlights. Smoke will make it difficult to see.
If you are caught in fire in your car:
- Park off the road 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.
Impacts in your area:
The following roads are closed:
- Hume Fwy between Violet Town and Seymour
- Campbell St and Clifton St, Euroa
- Faithfull Rd and Hume Fwy
- Tarcombe Rd and Hume Fwy
- Maroondah Hwy between Yea and Maindample
There are two Emergency Relief Centres operating:
- Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre (Chittick Park), Pollard St, Seymour
- Mansfield Youth Centre, 7 Erril St, Mansfield
To register that you are safe or for inquiries regarding residents in the fire area, go online to Register Find Reunite at register.redcross.org.au
Leave Immediately Emergency Warning
Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.
Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
What you should do:
Travel to:
- The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area.
- When you leave remember to take your pets, medications, mobile phone and charger.
In the car:
- If you are travelling, do not enter the area. Make a U-turn and travel 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 in-ground 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.
Watch and Act - Prepare to Leave Warning
Prepare to Leave immediately. Leave as soon as you are ready, as roads will become busy as people leave.
What you should do:
- Monitor the situation. Increased wind speed, change in wind direction, smoke or poor visibility can mean the situation is worsening.
- Protect yourself and your family.
- If you are not prepared, leave now. Don’t wait until it is too late — leave early.
- If you are away from home, do not return.
If you are leaving, pack:
- Cash
- Clothing for three days
- Medicine for three days
- Phone and chargers
- Toiletries
- Important documents
- Meaningful items and photos
- Pet essentials, including leash and carriers.
Check on your neighbours if it is safe.
Check the VicTraffic website for road closures.
Leave if the situation changes or you feel unsafe.
Where to go:
- Friends or family away from the fire.
- Consider roads may become busy closer to the time of impact.