Firefighters were working to control bushfires in the Australian state of Victoria on Saturday. Authorities have urged hundreds of residents in the affected areas to evacuate.

Bushfires raged in Australia's Victoria on Saturday, leading to an evacuation order at the highest emergency level for hundreds of people living in the western part of the state. Authorities raised the alert for an area near the Grampians National Park, which is located approximately 241 kilometers (about 150 miles) from the state capital, Melbourne. Shortly after, Victoria’s emergency services agency upgraded the advice to "evacuate immediately" and expanded the affected area.

The agency issued an emergency warning for several locations, including Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, and Halls Gap. It advised that "if you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you."

Residents were urged to remember essential items such as mobile phones, chargers, and pets, and to check local traffic authority websites for updates on road closures.

The fire, which had tripled in size within a day, was reported to have grown to approximately 30,000 hectares on Saturday morning, up from 7,500 hectares the day before, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Nearly 400 firefighters were on the ground battling the blaze, supported by over 100 tankers, 25 aircraft, and other heavy machinery, the broadcaster added. Gary Cook, deputy chief officer of the Country Fire Authority, said the fire had stabilized since the winds had dropped.

However, the fire is expected to continue burning over Christmas and into the following weeks, as reported by an incident controller during a town hall meeting in the region.

Authorities in Australia have warned of a high-risk bushfire season this summer. After the devastating 2019-2020 "Black Summer" fires, which claimed 33 lives and destroyed an area roughly the size of Turkey, the country has experienced several quieter fire seasons.