Weather 
Residents around Beaufort in Victoria’s west are being urgently advised to evacuate as a bushfire remains out of control.
An emergency warning has been issued more than 25 communities northwest of Ballarat with authorities urging residents to “leave immediately”.
The bushfire at Bayindeen-Rocky Road is not yet under control as it travels in a south-easterly direction heavily damaging the town of Beaufort.
Another Watch and Act warning has also been issued with residents in Addington, Brewster, Burrumbeet, Ercildoune, Glenbrae, Lexton, Trawalla, Waubra and Weatherboard told to “leave now”.
VicEmergency is insisting residents who can leave should head towards Ballarat where there is support available.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the out of control blaze was of “grave concern” to fire authorities, while flagging it was “going to continue to be a difficult few hours ahead”.
“Please act now to save your own life,” Ms Allan said from the State Control Centre on Thursday.
“The advice is to leave and head towards Ballarat where there are supports available.”
There are about 1000 firefighters on the ground with 100 trucks actively fighting the blaze and protecting properties.
But the major concern remains strong winds in the area.
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan warned that changing winds between 6pm and 7pm would severely affect the threat level.
“In effect, that will turn one side of the fire … into the main fire front and it’ll bring more communities under threat tonight,” Heffernan said.
“I expect those wind conditions to continue into about midnight tonight.”
As a result of the disastrous blaze, the Western Highway has been closed in both directions between Ballarat and Ararat.
Train and bus services have also been severely impacted with V/Line services on the Ararat Line suspended.
The following bus services have also been affected: Ballyrogan to Buangor; Homebush to Avoca; Lexton to Beaufort; Raglan to Middle Creek to Beaufort; Warrack to Ararat; Langi Kal Kal to Beaufort; Skipton to Beaufort; and Trawalla to Brewster to Beaufort.
Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson told Sky News Australia the wind had caused embers to be hurled up to ten kilometres.
“The smell is very heavy with smoke at the moment, so hopefully that those crews that are on the ground and in the area able to be fighting back to the front and able to get these under control as soon as possible,” Mr Hudson said.
The Mayor said rain was expected later in the evening with hopes a downpour would “dampen some of the ground”.
“There’s significant fuel for the fire to be burning in,” he said.
“With the really strong winds, it was absolutely taking off with the plumes of smoke that have been coming over Ballarat and Beaufort.”
The mercury hit 37 degrees in Ballarat on Thursday, while Melbourne also sweltered through extremely hot weather.
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