A bushfire in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs caused chaos as numerous residents were compelled to evacuate their homes overnight. One property in Montrose was completely ravaged, and another suffered serious damage. Local resident Kerri Maggs described the situation as “quite scary,” noting that her daughter was in tears during the ordeal.
The fire ignited early in the afternoon, and while the Country Fire Authority (CFA) initially believed they had it under control, the situation escalated due to changing weather conditions. By morning, the fire had doubled in size, consuming around 40 hectares. Local Cas Churchill remarked on the alarming scene, stating the fire was merely 100 metres away, casting the sky in a menacing red hue.
Residents experienced scant warning; Val Platt recounted how she woke to someone shouting to evacuate immediately. The first alert did not arrive until 1:20 am, nearly an hour and a half after the danger was evident. In total, dozens of residents were evacuated as embers spread through the area.
An evacuation centre was promptly established at a reserve in Kilsyth, accommodating around 25 residents. Fortunately, many of them were able to return home later in the day as the emergency warning status was downgraded. Crews benefited from recent wet weather, which aided firefighting efforts, allowing them to initiate clean-up operations.
Despite the rain, locals were advised to stay vigilant, given that conditions could swiftly change. The CFA remains hopeful that the fire will be fully contained by the following day. The official cause of the bushfire is still under investigation.