Benefiting from cooperative weather, the fire’s spread has largely been halted throughout the afternoon.

Nonetheless, officials caution that the bushfire remains uncontrolled and unpredictable, with conditions that could shift rapidly.

Earlier, dense smoke severely limited visibility as the flames tore through rugged, hard-to-reach areas, posing significant challenges for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) teams.

“We’re deploying machinery around the fire’s perimeter to establish a mineral earth barrier to prevent further spread overnight,” explained Tim McGrade from DFES.

The blaze ignited shortly before 2 p.m., prompting immediate emergency alerts and the opening of evacuation centers for affected residents.

Firefighters responded swiftly, attacking the fire both on the ground and from the air, aided by the favorable weather conditions.

“We’ve been pretty lucky with the wind, it’s pretty still at the moment so the fire isn’t moving,” McGrade said.

The fire burnt through 27 hectares within three hours, the spread reduced by the lack of wind and a pocket only recently burned.

Relief for locals as properties spared and only power poles impacted.

“That’s a testament to the crews again and potentially to the community who’s prepared, and that’s a wonderful thing to see,” McGrade said.

A total fire ban is in place for parts of the state.

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