What is the name and location of the bushfire?

As of December 30, 2024, the Grampians National Park Bushfire is burning in southwestern Victoria, Australia (1). The blaze is primarily active in areas near Mafeking, Dunkeld, and Victoria Valley, but is now mostly contained (2)(3)(4)(5).

Which cities or areas are affected by the bushfire?

The bushfire has triggered emergency warnings to leave the following areas:

• Barton
• The Grampians
• Halls Gap
• Mafeking
• Watgania

Air quality has not been significantly impacted in Victoria yet but could worsen in nearby cities like Hamilton and Horsham, depending on wind direction and smoke generated from the fire.

What is the current containment status of the bushfire?

As of December 30, the bushfire in the Grampians is currently 95% contained. It grew rapidly from 500 hectares to over 5,400 hectares within 24 hours due to dry vegetation, excessive heat, and strong winds, eventually reaching nearly 80,000 hectares (6). Fire crews are actively working on containment with additional strike teams deployed.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

As of December 30, there are Watch and Act alert warnings in the Grampians region, such as Dunkeld, Moyston, Maroona, Pomonal, Willaura, and numerous other communities near the Park (7).

How can I protect myself from bushfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from bushfire smoke.

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter bushfire smoke.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.

As of December 30, 2024, this fire is 95% controlled.