Night water-bombers deployed as homes under threat from Bunyip State Park bushfires
Firefighters are deploying night water-bombing aircraft in their battle to contain several bushfires raging within a few kilometres of homes south-east of Melbourne.
An emergency warning was issued for the townships of Cornucopia, Garfield North, Maryknoll, Tonimbuk and Tynong North, as hundreds of firefighters and aircraft battled multiple bushfires sparked by lightning in the heavily forested Bunyip State Park.
"The fire is threatening homes and lives," the warning issued on Friday night read. "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive."
On Friday evening, the bushfire was travelling in a north-easterly direction towards Tonimbuk and Garfield North, however the changing winds and hilly terrain meant it could change on Saturday.
"The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave. Leaving now would be deadly," the warning said.
Three main fires were burning in Bunyip State Park, with fire services expecting them to join up.
"The aim is to secure the edge of the fire ahead of potentially stronger winds tomorrow (Saturday) and of course the heat that is being predicted," said Forest Fire Management Victoria state agency commander David Sayce.
A relief centre was being set up by the local council at the Pakenham Town Hall for those who had evacuated. A community meeting will also be held there on Saturday.
Victoria is in the grip of a four-day heatwave, with sweltering days and hot nights forecast ahead of a cool change on Sunday.
On Friday afternoon, thunderstorms which were moving over the outer eastern suburbs to the north of Melbourne saw significant lightning over the city.
By 10pm on Friday night, 88 fires had started in 24 hours, most of them caused by lightning.
"It really stretched our resources," Mr Sayce said. "They are all in remote country. We certainly have got crews working hard overnight and over the coming days."
It is estimated the blaze is within one to two kilometres of properties.
A watch and act alert was also issued for fires burning near Gembrook, in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.
Those is Gembrook, Whites Corner and Beenak were told to stay close to buildings they could take shelter while firefighters attempt to control the blaze.
"There have been multiple lightning strikes in the area of the Bunyip State Park. This fire is near the Gilwell Park Scout Park," the warning reads.
The famous Puffing Billy Railway in Belgrave cancelled its "Day Out with Thomas" event on Saturday due to the fire.
Melbourne reached 38.1 degrees on Friday at 5.15pm, while Avalon hit 40.1 degrees just after 2pm.
At the Ferny Creek weather station, the closest to the fires, it hit 34.7 degrees just before 5pm with winds of about 10km/h.
It comes as the bureau revealed Victoria had its hottest summer on record.
The mean temperature between December last year and February across the state was 2.54 degrees above the summer average, while rainfall was 12 per cent below average.