Holidaymakers and residents have been told to urgently evacuate NSW and Victorian towns before freakish conditions hit on Saturday which could be deadly – but roads are jammed and service stations are running out of fuel.
There were chaotic scenes on the NSW south coast and Victorian border on Friday morning as hundreds of anxious people hit the roads trying to get to safety ahead of a predicted firestorm on Saturday.
A firestorm is when a fire reaches such intensity it creates its own wind system.
Authorities fear the fires on either side of the NSW and Victorian borders could merge by Saturday, fuelled by strong winds forecast and temperatures over 40C.
Warning alerts in the form of text messages have been sent out to residents in the affected areas, urging them to get out.
Residents and holidaymakers in and around the East Gippsland region are being urged to evacuate immediately before fire storm conditions which may not be survivable on Saturday
‘Fire weather on Saturday is predicted to be extreme creating fire storm conditions which may not be survivable,’ the warning read.
Residents and holidaymakers were also warned if they chose to stay emergency crews may not be able to reach them.
However the roads out of the region are already clogged with thousands of vehicles trying to flee the bushfires.
They were told they had until midday to make it to the Murray Valley Highway, any evacuation after then is considered ‘life threatening’.
Fuel shortages and long queues are hampering efforts to escape the bushfire-hit areas.
‘The Murray Valley Highway has been opened to allow residents to evacuate. Travel to Corryong and via the Murray Valley Highway towards Tallangatta,’ the warning stated.
‘Bushfires can spread quickly and are extremely dangerous we recommend you leave now before the weather changes.’
A relief centre was opened at Corryong High School, Tallangatta Memorial Hall, Wodonga at The Cube and Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre.
An animal relief centre was also opened at the Wangaratta Showgrounds.
There were chaotic scenes on the NSW south coast and Victoria’s border on Friday morning as hundreds of anxious people hit the roads trying to get to safety ahead of a predicted firestorm on Saturday
In NSW, people near Batlow have been asked to leave on Thursday while holiday-makers in the alps and between Nowra and the Victorian border should be out by Friday afternoon.
And any people from Batemans Bay south to the Victorian border have also been given ‘leave now’ warnings.
A shortage of supplies in some areas has also lead to the highways being clogged with people looking to escape.
While supplies are high in most communities, stations in Ulladulla, Moruya and Corryong ran dry by 6pm while others restricted purchases to guarantee enough remained for firefighters.
Restocking tanks is also an issue, with emergency services due to escort petrol tankers into Moruya on Thursday night.
A 50-litre limit per person was imposed at one Moruya petrol station after it sold double its January average within 12 hours and faced a line of vehicles stretching more than a kilometre.
In NSW, people near Batlow have been asked to leave on Thursday while holiday-makers in the alps and between Nowra and the Victorian border should be out by Friday afternoon. Pictured: Cars line up to leave Batemans Bay
It was among two Moruya stations to run dry, while certain fuels were exhausted at sites in Merimbula, Mallacoota, Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale.
Deliveries have been made to key centres Batemans Bay and Eden, where demand remains high.
BP said the safety of its employees and customers was a priority as it tried to maintain the supply of fuel to bushfires-affected communities.
Caltex said it was doing what it could to deliver more fuel to bushfire-affected areas.
‘We thank our customers for their patience as we manage the increased demand at this difficult time,’ Caltex spokesman Richard Baker said in a statement.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday said she was relieved that power and other services had been restored to some towns.
‘We encourage people to exercise caution (driving out),’ she told reporters on Thursday.
‘We do appreciate that for some, it is difficult to access supplies but it’s much easier than what it was yesterday and the day before.’
Almost 9000 homes and businesses remain without power in bushfire-affected NSW and Victorian communities. The number was as high as 50,000 on Wednesday.
Almost 9000 homes and businesses remain without power in bushfire-affected NSW and Victorian communities. Pictured: fires burn between the townships of Bemm River and Cann River in eastern Gippsland