Fire threatens Vic Grampians community - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

The small community of Glenisla bordering Victoria's Grampians National Park is under thereat from a large bushfire.

The CFA says the out-of-control 25,000 hectare fire is in the Glenisla area, with a population around 200, in western Victoria.

The CFA has issued an emergency warning for residents saying the fire, which is travelling in a north westerly direction, is creating spot fires.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley had warned the major concern for firefighters this weekend is the blaze in the Grampians, which has been running for a week and shows no signs of coming under control.

Mr Lapsley said the continued hot weather and lack of rain meant the fire season would last into next month.

"We don't see any rain of any significance for the next two or three weeks and that means we have a fire risk that will stay all of February and into early March," he said.

A CFA spokeswoman said there were six large farms in the Glenisla region and their residents were all doorknocked on Wednesday and warned to have their fire plan ready to enact.

"The fire is quite close to properties in the area," she said.

The historic Glenisla Homestead, which sits on 800 hectares, is also under threat.

Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham said Mr O'Farrell didn't go far enough.

"What we've got now is more uncertainty and an even bigger mess," Mr Buckingham told reporters in Sydney.

"What the community is concerned about is the granting of the exploration licence in the beginning. That has not been addressed.

"All that's been addressed is a possible public-interest test when it comes to the assessment of the development application."

Mr Buckingham called for the government to legislate to suspend the licence, saying there had been no advice from ICAC not to do so.

Craig Shaw, secretary of the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance and a local resident, said he had come to parliament on Thursday hoping for some clarity but many questions remained unanswered.

"Even if Cascade Coal won't get their development application approved ... is it open for someone to buy, for someone else to make an application for a mine?

"Will the same public-interest process transfer to them?

"To us there seems to be a lot of unfinished business there.

"Perhaps this needs legislative change, and I hope the premier is prepared to do that because it doesn't make any sense to leave half the stinking mess behind."