Dom Uljanic, Emily Kirton and Claire Mackay from DEECA attended and provided 16 members and non-members with an overview of the recent Grampians fires (2024-2025) and plans for future fire management.
The recent fires were unprecedented burning 136,647 hectares, 2/3 of the National Park, and one of 7 major landscape fires in the Grampians in the last 19 years.
Multiple dry lightning strikes, a period of extended dry conditions, wind and weather conditions led to the Yarram Gap fire rapidly getting out of control and reaching a size of 100 hectares in a matter of minutes. This was despite the early deployment of 4 bombers. Due to the location, it was not possible to get a ground crew in, and firefighting efforts relied on aerial control.
This was sobering. It was clear to me from the talk that fire management is a juggling act of resources, local knowledge, tactics and … Read the rest
Category: 2024-2025 Summer Grampians Bushfires
Christmas 2024 Long Gully Road Pomonal
Many have firsthand experience of bushfires and of the fires last summer that resulted in much of the park and many neighbouring properties being incinerated. This is just my perspective.
We recently built a strawbale house, partly from a thermal-efficiency and sustainability point-of-view, but also because of their excellent fire-resilience, especially when all other structural components are constructed with bushfires in mind (minimum gaps for embers, minimal exposed timber etc). The house is sited a couple of hundred metres from the nearest bush and there is a 50m buffer zone around the house of mown grass and bracken.
I was confident I could defend the property, especially after we installed sprinklers around the house, water tank and shed; the latter was important to defend, it housing our off-grid inverters and batteries. I am also CFA-trained.
The only anxious moment was when the fire was reported to be coming from the … Read the rest
Redgum Walk 2025 Fire impacts
Parks Victoria Volunteers undertook the twice a year Great Gariwerd Bird Survey in May and I had the opportunity to drive along the Glenelg River Road and visit the Redgum Walk just off the Henham track.
This area had been badly damaged in the 2005-2006 bushfires and once again this area was badly burnt.
Some FOGG members may remember the many working bees back in the 1990s to remove the old wire and put in this walking track as the first All Abilities Walking Track in the Grampians Gariwerd.
This poor old redgum table has been burnt. This one had been installed in 2010 replacing the original 1998 table that had survived the 2006 fires only to be stolen in 2008.
Grampians Fire and Parks Victoria Updates
16th December 2024 onwards to May 2025
Chronology: 16th December 2024 A lightning band started multiple fires across Grampians including at Yarram Gap. Forest Fire Management planes started patrolling immediately. Despite large numbers of aircraft, water bombers and ground crew operations the fire spread along the Mt William range, Mt Rosea and Sundial area over the next two weeks. This fire extended south towards Walker Swamp and west into the Wannon River valley and east towards Pomonal and Moyston.
Halls Gap and surrounding towns were evacuated several times. Christmas was a very unsettling time for many.
This Yarram Gap fire burnt 76000 hectares of National Park and farmland and had a perimeter of 427km. Including farmland and homes around Pomonal and Moyston.
From 3/1/2025 Wildlife welfare crews conducted assessments with vets to care for injured wildlife and food drops were being conducted throughout the Grampians National Park. Plus impact assessment … Read the rest
2025 Grampians (Gariwerd) aerial pest animal control operation
Official Notice
Starting 12th – 14th March 2025
Parks Victoria is conducting a conservation program to improve the health of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park native animals and plants following the devastating recent fires.
The recent Yarram Gap and Wallaby Rocks fires affected over 70% of the Grampians National Park impacting native plants, animals, aquatic species and invertebrates.
Urgent action is being taken to reduce predators (foxes and feral cats) and introduced herbivores (deer and feral goats), threatening the survival and recovery of vulnerable native plants and animals.
An aerial control operation will be conducted Wed 12th – Fri 14th March 2025 to support the recovery of native animals and plants after the Wallaby Rocks and Yarram Gap fires.
Foxes and feral cats prey on Grampians native animals such as the Brush tailed Rock Wallaby, Long nosed Potoroo, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Smoky mouse, Heath mouse, and … Read the rest
Grampians Fires
16th December 2024 Lightning strikes started fires at Yarram Gap and spread north towards Halls Gap. Soon the whole Mt William range, Mt Rosea and Sundial area was on fire. This fire extended south towards Walker Swamp and west into the Wannon River valley and east towards Pomonal and Moyston.
Halls Gap and surrounding towns were evacuated several times. Christmas was a very unsettling time for many.
Over 76000 hectares of National Park and farmland was burnt, the fire had a perimeter of 427km. Including farmland around Pomonal and Moyston. Pomonal had burnt recently in February 2024 and once again the town had to be evacuated. Several homes were lost and many fences and out buildings.
On the 6th January this fire was contained, but blacking out operations continued and the fire was monitored to ensure that it did not break out again.
Halls Gap reopened on 8th January and … Read the rest
Extreme Fire Danger 22nd February 2025
Park Update
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 21.02.2025
Total Fire Ban 22.02.2025
Saturday 22nd February 2025 has been declared a day of Total Fire Ban in the Wimmera and South West Districts. These districts cover the whole of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 12:01 AM on Saturday, 22nd February 2025 until 11:59 PM Saturday, 22nd February.
To find out what you can and can’t do during the declared Fire Danger Period, and on days of Total Fire Ban, when fires in the open air are legally restricted. Please visit:
https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/
William (Bill) Playne
Ranger – Visitor and Community
Park Update 21st February 2025 – Fire now under control in the Grampians area 135,800 hectares burnt
Park Update
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 21.02.2025
For Bushfire Reopening information and Road Updates please visit www.parks.vic.gov.au
Welcoming visitors back to the park
The reopening’s in non-fire affected areas have rolled out over the week in the northern, southern and some central areas. Brambuk staff have noted increased numbers of international visitors coming through the centre and general enquiries about campgrounds.
Bushfires Update
Issued Last Sunday at 5:01 PM (from Vic Emergency).
This Community Information message is being issued for Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and the surrounding area.
- The status for this bushfire is now under control.
- Over summer two large bushfires impacted the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. These fires have burnt 135,800 ha of park and private land. However, there are still many areas open for you to visit. Please obey park and road closures, and do not enter fire affected areas as fire crews are working in
Meeting report on Parks Talk by Sarah Cole in February 2025 about the Fires
Parks Victoria Meeting
Date: February 7th Location: Brambuk, Halls Gap The National Park and Cultural Centre
- Brush Tailed Rock Wallabies
- Population: 60 animals across two sites in Victoria
- Reintroduction: Since 2008
- Recent post fire Feeding Operations:
- 5 aerial operations using helicopters
- Drone attempts were unsuccessful
- Deer and Pest Control
- Animals Controlled:
- 10 foxes
- 30 red deer
- 3 out of 4 Sambar
- Feeding Programs for Other Animals
- Heath Mouse
- River Blackfish:
- Depend on hollow logs in rivers for spawning and hiding
- Relocation Efforts – farm dams
- Agile Antechinus
- Long nosed Potoroo
- Southern Brown Bandicoot
- Shelter Pods:
-
- Purchased by DEECA
- Monitored by Deakin University
- 160 installed across two sites (80 pods per site)
- Clusters: 16 pods × 5 locations
- Monitoring: 2 cameras per cluster
- Small Mammal Trapping Program:
-
- Conducted by Dr John White (Deakin University)
Funding: Possible funding for a team dedicated to fire recovery
Pest Plants
- Sallow Wattle:
Issues :
- Regenerates
Emergency Warning for Brimpaen, Wartook and Zumsteins – leave Immediately
29th January 2025 Issued Today at 3:57 PM.
This Emergency Warning is being issued for Brimpaen, Wartook, Zumsteins.
- There is a bushfire at Grampians National Park – Wallaby Rocks that is not yet under control.
- The bushfire is travelling towards Snells Road and Wartook Rise in the Wartook area.
- Private property in Wartook is being impacted now.
Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.
Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
What you should do:
Travel to:
- The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area.
- You should leave using the Northern Grampians Road and head towards Laharum or Horsham.
- When you leave remember to take your pets, medications, mobile phone and charger.
In the car:
- If you are travelling, do not enter the area. Make a u-turn and travel to safety.
- Slow