Trish Ravenhall thought she was prepared to fend off flames and save her home as a bushfire razed nearby bushland.
The fire, which burned about 76,000 hectares of the Grampians National Park in Victoria's west for more than three weeks, destroyed four homes and dozens of outbuildings before it was brought under control.
With smoke in the area intensifying, Mr Ravenhall and her family evacuated her community in Halls Gap, grabbing what they could as the fire moved towards the town.
“In hindsight, we should have been more prepared before we got the evacuation message, with an emergency kit ready to go," she said.
In their haste, the family later realised they had forgotten several essential items.
Ms Ravenhall is urging others to have a bushfire plan and evacuation kit ready with the necessities.
“Do it not just for yourself but for your family, your neighbours and the emergency services who are there to protect us," she said.
The Country Fire Authority is urging those in high-risk bushfire areas to finalise their bushfire survival plans as a hot spell is forecast into next week.
The mercury is set to jump into the high 30Cs and low 40Cs from Saturday across Victoria with the chance of dry thunderstorms and lighting increasing the risk of fires in the western and central districts.
“With multiple significant fires already burning in the Grampians and Little Desert, this stretch of hot and dry weather could make conditions even more challenging for firefighters," CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.
“We need all Victorians, particularly those in high-risk areas, to act now. Don’t wait until it’s too late."
Firefighters were trying to contain the blazes and prevent damage to the Grampians National Park that is home to about 200 Indigenous rock art sites.
Crews have been scrambling to take advantage of benign weather to backburn and help protect communities and the environment.
Three bushfires continue to burn in the Grampians while the bushfire threat in the Little Desert National Park has reduced with crews on track to contain it ahead of the weekend.
People looking to cool off during the hot spell have been reminded to prioritise water safety as temperatures soar, with Life Saving Victoria urging people to swim with friends between red and yellow flags, keep an eye on children around the water and
