Western Victoria battles fire and braces for worse. (Supplied: State Control Centre)
In short:
It will take up to 20 years to recover what has been lost in this summer's Grampians bushfire, an ecologist says.
The fire is larger than the area of Singapore and has destroyed a number of homes and outbuildings.
What's next?
Wildlife rescuers expect many animals will need care once it is safe to move back into the area.
A wildlife ecologist says it will take up to 20 years to recover what has been lost in one of the "most biologically important landscapes in Victoria", as a blaze of more than 76,000 hectares continues to burn through the Grampians National Park.
Bushfires – what to do
- PLAN — How to prepare for bushfires
- ACT — What to do during a bushfire
- RECOVER — After a fire has passed
The area of the bushfire is currently larger than Singapore, and the flames have destroyed a number of homes, outbuildings, and sheds in the Moyston area.
Victorian fire authorities say about 500 firefighters were burning off at the northern and southern ends of the blaze on Sunday to help secure a perimeter of nearly 400 kilometres.
CFA state agency commander Paul Carrigg said there were early indications of high temperatures this weekend but no forecast adverse winds.
It could take up to 20 years for the Grampians National Park to fully recover. (Supplied: Ross Walker/Scoresby Fire Brigade)
'Habitat will be lost, plants will die'
Deakin University associate professor John White has studied how species and ecosystems respond to external threats such as fire and climate change, particularly in the Grampians, since 2008.
Dr White expected the devastation caused by the fire to be felt for many years.
"This is about the fourth large fire in the Grampians in the past 20 years, which is a lot more than normal," he said.
John White has studied the impacts of fire in the Grampians since 2008. (Supplied: John White)
"What will initially happen [this time] is a lot of habitat will be lost, plants will die, animals will be killed by the fire, but a lot of them will survive.
"But then there's the next phase, where a lot of the smaller animals will potentially starve … or foxes and cats will be drawn into the area and clean up a lot of what's left.
"There's a lot of amazing plants and mammal and bird species in the Grampians … it will have a big impact for many years to come."
Dr White is concerned about the habitat for the long-nosed potoroo. (Supplied: John White)
One third of Victoria's plant species
Dr White said the Grampians held about a third of Victoria's plant species, with some only found in that region.
He is also particularly concerned for the long-nosed potoroo, a small hopping mammal native to forests and shrubland in south-east Australia and Tasmania.
"It's right at the edge of its distribution in the Grampians, and it's taken us most of the last 10 years to even find where there were any populations left," he said.
"Unfortunately this fire has probably burnt out at least half of the habitat that this species was found in.
The Grampians before the December fire. (Supplied: John White)
"We're desperately trying to keep them in the Grampians."
Dr White said critical natural infrastructure had also been lost.
"The Wannon River and all of its tributaries [and the surrounding land] … these areas are quite wet habitats and they hold a lot of biodiversity, but they're also a drought refuge," he said.
Dr White says the house mouse will take over burnt areas, bringing in predators like cats. (Supplied: John White)
"[These are] areas of the landscape where species are able to survive long droughts, and then distribute back out.
"We've lost a lot of the safe zones in the landscape that's helped us fight the impacts of climate change."
Dr White said this would impact small carnivorous marsupials like antechinuses and water rats.
"Most of the small mammal species, when we look at their peak period, [recovery] takes about 20 years post fire," he said.
"If we go into a drought, recovery can be delayed for many years."
For local alerts and advice on what to do before, during and after a bushfire, check ABC Emergency and listen to ABC Radio.
Life from fire
Fire also brings life.
Dr White said a lot of species relied on fire and smoke to promote seed germination.
"The grass tree will tend to flower a year after a fire," he said.
"They'll put up green shoots and they'll put a flower spike in a year to produce a lot of seed.
"A lot of plants require fire to either open their seed pods up, like the banksias, or effectively treat their seeds so that they germinate."
Many plant species rely on fire and smoke to promote their seeds to germinate. (Supplied: John White)
Dr White said fire was part and parcel of nature's processes, but the problem was how frequently it was occurring.
"That's making it much harder to manage amazing landscapes like the Grampians," he said.
"We have to reflect on the fact that this is a massively important biological location … we've got to balance fire and biodiversity."
Animal shelters in danger
Ian Ivey has worked in wildlife rescue in Halls Gap for 10 years, and said he was not allowed in to help until the fire was deemed safe.
"It's really bad and it's still going," Mr Ivey said.
"It's the worst [fire] I've ever seen in the area — we're expecting to see a lot of injured animals and burnt kangaroos.
"If anyone comes across an injured animal please ring wildlife rescue and they will get in touch with a local rescuer who will come and assist."
Shelly Burrowes treats a grey-headed flying fox. (Supplied: Shelly Burrowes)
Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, where Mr Ivey works, is a safe haven for dozens of kangaroos, koalas, birds, possums, flying foxes, and reptiles.
On Facebook, the shelter said it had been under threat from the Grampians blaze and assistance was needed to help protect the animals.
At the southern end of the Grampians, Hamilton Wildlife Shelter owner Shelly Burrowes said animals that lost their habitat often encroached on farmland looking for food.
"Historically in bushfires, wildlife groups often set up feed and water stations to support the animals," she said.
"This has the added benefit for those animals that have been burned but are still mobile, they will come to those stations and get spotted by people who can call in help.
"I'm hoping to potentially talk with landowners about setting up these stations."
People who find wildlife injured by the fire are asked to download the Wildlife Emergency App or call 1300 356 882.
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