Emergency services send out evacuate now message for communities surrounding Budj Bim bushfire

The bushfire is not-yet-under-control and the VicEmergency advice says "leaving now is the safest option" as "conditions may change and get worse very quickly".

4.45pm: FIREFIGHTERS have kept a fire within the Budj Bim National Park, despite dangerous conditions that threaten communities south of the blaze.

Heywood-based deputy incident controller Bernie Fradd said on Friday afternoon the out-of-control fire remained within containment lines.

"Luckily the weather has been a little bit kind to us, the wind strength hasn't gotten up," Mr Fradd said.

The conditions prompted an evacuation notice, still in place on Friday afternoon, for communities including Bessiebelle.

"If this throws sparks and embers it could get into bluegum plantations and take off rapidly," Mr Fradd said.

"We have taken a cautions approach and wanted as many people out of the path of the fire as we can."

He said if firefighters held the blaze through a wind change on Friday night, lower temperatures in coming days meant the outlook was much better.

"We are really hopeful if we can get through the next 12 hours we will be able to maintain the fire within its boundaries, that would be a great win for us and a great win for the local community," Mr Fradd said.

Communities surrounding the fire were told to evacuate to Portland, where Mr Fradd said four people had attended a relief centre.

"We're not sure how many others have left who went to a safer location," he said.

The fire has now spread to an area more than 6000 hectares, and has joined with an earlier fire area that firefighters brought under control this week at Lake Condah.

"All that work earlier on has been for naught. It has burnt most of the Budj Bim national park," Mr Fradd said.

He said there was no reports that facilities were lost within the UNESCO-listed World Heritage park.

"It is a fairly important area we haven't been able to use heavy equipment to get into the park on most of the area, due to its conservation area," Mr Fradd said.

There are a number of historical sites through the park that will have to be assessed later."

Mr Fradd said the fire had burned "a small amount" of private land to the north of the park earlier in the week.

"We don't believe there are any losses, a part from some fencing," he said.

Homerton resident Ron Millard said his family evacuated on Friday, but he remained with fellow neighbours.

"It was pretty bad for a little a while, the wind was blowing towards us and smoke was going all over the place," he said.

"There is a hell of a lot of firefighters around ... we are getting well looked after."

1:30pm: Emergency services have told people in Bessiebelle to evacuate.

A wind change is expected around 2.00pm, which will cause the fire to change directions towards Bessiebelle.

This fire is travelling from Budj Bim National Park in a south-westerly direction towards Old Mill Road.

Police have set up road blocks at Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road between Bessiebelle and Homerton.

Portland Acting Sergeant Leah Sullivan said those in the area should monitor conditions.

"Residents between Woolsthorpe, Homerton and Bessiebelle are being evacuated as we speak," she told The Standard early on Friday afternoon.

"Police have set up two road closure sites; there are two police units there and a unit within Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road helping with the evacuation.

"We've got an evacuation centre up-and-running at the Civic Hall in Portland and residents are being advised to attend there to seek refuge if required. A Senior Sergeant is located at the hall.

"Members of the public should stick to the Princes Highway and keep an ear out to the radio and updates of the weather forecast as it's warming up and the wind has started to kick up a little bit."

Emergency services have increased the total fire area to 6210 hectares.

12.15pm: An evacuate now message has been sent out for communities surrounding the Budj Bim fire.

Emergency services have "strongly recommended" people evacuate from the Bessiebelle, Broadwater, Codrington, Homerton, Lake Condah, Macarthur, Tyrendarra, Condah South, Condah Mission areas.

An alert states that "if you are located in the area south of the fire in Budj Bim National Park it is strongly recommended that you evacuate now".

Firefighters are uncertain if they can hold the fire at its current location.

A wind change is expected around 2.00pm, which will cause the fire to change directions towards Bessiebelle.

Conditions can become very dangerous and unpredictable.

A relief centre is open at the Portland Civic Hall, at 30 Bentinck Street, Portland. Emergency services recommend that people go to the home of family and friends away from the warning area.

"If you evacuate to a family or friend's house you should register with Portland Civic Hall Relief Centre to help others find you," an alert message says.

Macarthur resident Merilyn Cook said the community had been told to evacuate on Friday afternoon.

"I have my bags packed and ready to go by the front door in the car," she said.

"I have somewhere I can stay in Hamilton. Everyone is keeping an eye on the oldies to make sure the message is getting through to them."

F Greed and Sons said they had moved a funeral for a well-known Macarthur woman planned for 2pm to the Hamilton Uniting Church. About 100 people were expected to attend.

Earlier: EMERGENCY services have widened a "watch and act" message to now include immediate farming communities surrounding the out-of-control Budj Bim bushfire.

The blaze is travelling from Budj Bim-Mt Eccles National Park in a south-westerly direction towards Tyrendarra.

The alert is for communities including Ardonachie, Bessiebelle, Breakaway Creek, Broadwater, Condah Mission, Homerton, Knebsworth, Lake Condah, Milltown, Tyrendarra.

Emergency services advise communities that "leaving now is the safest option, conditions may change and get worse very quickly".

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