General News
27 January, 2025
Dimboola and Wail residents told it is safe to return following fire threat
Little Desert National Park fire burns more than 63,000ha
Update 3pm, Tuesday, January 28: The CFA has advised residents of the evacuated Dimboola and Wail that it is safe to return to the Wimmera towns as fire fighters gain the upper hand in the fight against the Little Desert National Park bushfire.
ID showing proof of address will be required to pass through the traffic management point on the Western Highway.
The spread of fire towards Dimboola and Wail has been reduced.
The fire is still active in the Little Desert National Park and is travelling in a northerly direction.
People located within the Dimboola and Wail area are now able to resume normal activities, however the fire is still active and you will need to stay informed and monitor conditions.
Horsham Rural City Council has advised that the Horsham Emergency Relief Centre will close at 5pm on Tuesday, January 28.
Hindmarsh Shire Council will open a new relief centre at the Dimboola Library on Wednesday, January 29.
There will be a community meeting in Dimboola at 5pm on January 29 to discuss the situation and next steps.
9pm: An emergency warning advising people to take shelter now has been issued by the CFA for Dimboola, Gerang Gerung, Kiata, Kinimakatka, Lawloit, Little Desert, Winiam and Winiam East.
The bushfire is travelling from Little Desert National Park in a northerly direction towards Nhill.
This fire is threatening homes and lives.
It is too late to leave the area safely so you must take shelter now.
People in the area of this warning are being told they are in danger and need to act immediately.
The Little Desert fire has burned more than 65,000ha of land and has forced the evacuation of Dimboola, Wail and Pimpinio.
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 inground 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:
Embers are being carried by the wind large distances ahead of the main fire and starting spot fires.
6:45pm: The CFA is warning residents of Dimboola, Wail and Pimpinio to evacuate and leave immediately as the Little Desert bushfire closes in on the Western Highway corridor.
The bushfire is heading towards Dimboola and is expected to impact the town at 7:30pm.
The CFA is earning that after 7:30pm tonight, Monday 27 January it may be too late to leave.
This is an active and dynamic fire that is spreading rapidly.
A relief centre is open at Horsham Senior Citizens Centre at 17 Roberts Avenue.
Residents in Dimboola should leave via the Borung Highway heading towards Warracknabeal and turn right on the Blue Ribbon road towards Horsham.
Residents in Wail and Pimpinio should travel south towards Horsham.
The Nhill-Harrow Road is closed.
The Western Highway is closed between Dimboola and Horsham. You will be able to use the Western Highway to evacuate.
Check the VicTraffic website or call 13 11 70 for road closures.
A leave now warning remains in place for communities in and around the Little Desert National Park including Kinimakatka, Winiam Wast, Duchembegarra, Cooack and Nurcoung.
Areas surrounding the Little Desert National Park including Lawloit, Kiata, Nhill, Gerang Gerung, Dart Dart, Grass Flat and Nurcoung are being advised to stay informed.
Evacuate immediately:
Evacuate immediately with all members of your household.
When you leave, remember to take your pets, mobile phone and charger.
If you are away from home, do not return.
Travel to a safer location. Options include:
A relief centre is open at Horsham Senior Citizens Centre, 17 Roberts Avenue, Horsham.
The home of family or friends away from the warning area.
Residents in Dimboola should leave via the Borung Highway and head towards Warracknabeal and turn right on the Blue Ribbon road towards Horsham.
Residents in Wail and Pimpinio should travel south towards Horsham.
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 seek shelter inside:
Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from pure cotton or wool. Wear leather boots and heavy duty leather gloves.
Close all exterior doors, windows and vents. Turn off cooling systems.
Shelter in a room that has a door and or a window to the outside. The building can protect you from radiant heat. It is critical to keep an eye on 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 the 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'll need to seek shelter in another structure or last resort option.
Impacts in your area:
The Nhill-Harrow Road is closed.
The Western Highway is closed between Dimboola and Horsham. You will be able to use the Western Highway to evacuate.
Check the VicTraffic website (www.traffic.transport.vic.gov.au) or call 13 11 70 for road closures.
5:30pm: A leave now warning has been issued for Goroke, Minimay and Peronne as the CFA battles a second blaze in the area of the Little Desert National Park.
A leave now warning also remains for communities in and around the Little Desert National Park including Kinimakatka and Winiam East from a fire that has burned more than 7500ha of land.
The fire is not yet under control and travelling in an easterly direction towards Dimboola.
This is an active and dynamic fire that is spreading rapidly and is likely to extend further.
This fire creating a large amount of smoke that can be seen and smelt over a long distance.
residents of Dimboola, Duchembegarra, Gerang Gerung, Grass Flat, Kiata, Lawloit, Nhill, Nurcoung, Pimpinio and Wail are being told to stay informed.
Stay up to date on the VicEmergency website: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/.
Earlier: Almost 4700ha of land has been burnt since the Little Desert National Park bushfire started just after 1.30pm.
People in Little Desert and Nurcoung have been advised to leave now before conditions worsen.
Goroke, Nurcoung and Peronne residents were told to stay alert.
It is understood the fire front is travelling in an easterly direction towards the Nhill-Harrow road, which is now closed.
Stay up to date on the VicEmergency website: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/.
Earlier: The CFA has issued a watch and act warning advising anyone in the Little Desert National Park to leave now as fires threaten the area.
There are multiple fires in the Little Desert National Park that are not yet under control.
Visitors and campers should leave the park now.
The fires are travelling in a southerly direction towards private land south of the Little Desert.
A further warning urging resident of Duchembegarra, Goroke, Grass Flat, Gymbowen, Minimay, Mitre, Neuarpurr, Nurcoung and Peronne to stay informed has also been issued.
A previous warning had included Pimpinio, but has since been updated.
With temperatures expected to surpass 40 degrees with strong winds, the CFA has declared a total fire ban for Monday, January 27 and deemed the day's fire danger rating to be extreme.
The CFA advises those in the area of the fires not to wait, leaving now is the safest option.
Conditions may change and get worse very quickly.
Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.