http://emergency.vic.gov.au

1. Martin Park Oval No. 2, Gordon Street, Wodonga (entry opposite Mark Street, Wodonga)

2. Kelly Park Soccor Ground, Lawrence Street, Wodonga

3. Birrallee Park Football Ground, Marshall st, Wodonga

Or The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area, i.e.wodonga west

UPDATE: 

WEST Wodonga residents are on watch and act alert as bushfire continues to close on the city’s urban fringe.

The 170-hectare grassfire is still not under control, and is travelling slowly in an easterly diretcion from Black Range Road toward the western side of the city.

The CFA is warning that the fire could impact the area anytime between 11am and 4pm today.

Property owners in West Wodonga are asked to remain vigilant, review their fire plans and listen for updates as conditions may deteriorate quickly. 

Rain has fallen in the fire affected area overnight which has lessened the immediate impact of the fire, however conditions are still severe. Fire-fighters are in attendance and are attacking the fire; heavy machinery and aircraft will be operating in the area. 

A total fire ban has been declared for both Victoria and NSW today.

A severe weather warning remains in place for the North East, with damaging winds averaging 65km/h and peaking at 95km/h forecast for the area. 

Winds of 75km/h with gusts of 100km/h are also predicted for the alpine areas.

EARLIER:

WODONGA homes are under threat, with a bushfire approaching from the west possibly reaching the city’s outskirts from 7am this morning.

Last night residents in West Wodonga were advised to activate their fire plans — with reports of some residents choosing to evacuate after a watch and act alert was issued at 10pm.

The bushfire was just five kilometres from homes burning in an easterly direction from Black Range Road towards West Wodonga, after being started by lightning about 3pm.

CFA District 24 rostered duty officer Adrian Gutsche said residents of Cookinburra Road, Plunketts Road, Black Range Road, Coyles Road and Probyns Road particularly needed “to be aware there is a fire in their area”.

“They should be implementing their fire plans,” he said.

An incident control centre will be run from Wodonga TAFE today — the first time this has occurred in the six years since the inter-agency emergency procedure was created.

At 10.30pm Mr Gutsche said the fire had burnt 200 hectares and remained out of control.

Rain fell across the fire front last night, forcing the withdrawal of some larger fire tankers.

Mr Gutsche said there had been up to 30 fire trucks at the scene, but that had reduced to 15 late last night.

“There’s still more storms coming through tonight,” he said.

The CFA’s watch and act alert advised “The fire could impact West Wodonga at any time between 7am and 1pm tomorrow”.

If necessary, it advised residents to evacuate to places of last resort such as Martin Park No. 2, Kelly Park and Birallee Park.

Eight aircraft are expected to tackle the blaze from first light — including the Eriksson air crane. 

Meanwhile firefighters were also controlling fires scattered across West Wodonga, Chiltern, Rutherglen, Everton, Springhurst, Stanley, Barnawartha and Beechworth.

Mr Gutsche said there were 40 to 50 fires burning along the Hume Freeway last night.

CFA district 24 operations officer Mark Owens said a hay shed was destroyed at Rutherglen. 

A fire also broke out in an elevated engine room at Yarrawonga silos.

There are total fire bans across the region today.