NORTH-EAST: Yea, Limestone, Taggerty residents told to ‘leave immediately’
An Emergency Warning to ‘leave immediately’ was issued at 2.37pm Friday (Jan. 9) for Acheron, Limestone, Taggerty, Whanregarwen, Yea.
“Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.”
Emergency Relief Centres are open at:
• Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre (Chittick Park) Pollard Street Seymour
• Benalla Town Hall 82-86 Nunn Street Benalla
• Lilydale High School 25 Melba Avenue Lilydale
“You should leave using Goulburn Valley Highway towards Seymour, Melba Highway or Maroondah Highway towards Lilydale. Do not travel towards Alexandra.”
- 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 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.
Impacts in your area:
- The following roads are closed:
- Merton Euroa Road closed through to the Hume Freeway
- McMenaman Road and Maroondah Highway
- Kobyboyn Road and Highlands Road
- Ghin Ghin Road and Goulbourn Valley Highway
- Maroondah Highway and Devon Road
- Goulbourn Valley Highway and Whatton Place
- Faithfull Road at Hume Freeway
- Tarcombe Road at Hume Freeway
- Maroondah Highway between Yea and Maindample