By Mikayla van Loon
An extreme fire danger day has been announced for Wednesday 28 February, with a total fire ban also in place for the central district.
Much of the state will be at high risk of fire tomorrow, with the Wimmera the only district at this stage to be classified as catastrophic.
Premier Jacinta Allen said it is expected to be “one of the most dangerous fire days Victoria has experienced in recent years” with temperatures soaring into the mid-40s in parts of the north west.
“Certainly [it will] be in the high 30s and 40s for many parts of the state, coupled with high winds estimated between 30 to 40 kilometres an hour gusting up to 60 to 80 kilometres per hour,” she said on Tuesday.
“Particularly as we see the wind change coming through later tomorrow afternoon adding to the dry lightning that is also expected to move through large parts of the state.”
The concern remains for the western part of the state that is currently experiencing an “active fire”.
Four strike teams from CFA’s District 13 were sent to the Bayindeen Fire on Thursday 22 February, with around 100 firefighters manning the vehicles.
“Three of the strike teams worked until the evening of Friday 23 and returned to the district with one strike team remaining at the fire. Crews are rotating across the vehicles from the District Brigades,” a CFA spokesperson said.
“One strike team is still deployed and has approximately 20 personnel per shift manning the vehicles.”
With the conditions predicted for Wednesday, the CFA is assessing whether the strike team will return at the end of this week or remain depending on what occurs.
“At this point in time this strike team will continue to remain at the fire until Friday 1 March, but planning is occurring to see if this strike team continues beyond this period of time.”
The premier said in the areas of catastrophic and extreme fire risk, actions have been put in place particularly in health and aged care, as well as education.
“It’s expected there will be close to 100 schools and early childhood facilities that will be closed tomorrow. The education department and through their local schools will be notifying families of the arrangements tomorrow,” she said.
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent too voiced grave concerns about the conditions.
“It’s the worst possible fire conditions we can have across this part of the state. But following the heat there will also be a change with some significant winds that can occur as well,” he said.
“So there will be the risk of trees falling and branches causing damage as well and people need to be mindful of their surroundings.”
The advice of the commissioner is to “leave and leave early” and to “prepare, activate your fire plans”.
“With those areas rated as extreme or catastrophic if you live in a bushfire risk area we are asking you to leave and to leave early. Leave tonight or late tomorrow morning.
“Bushfire risk areas are those close to or near the bush, rural grass or paddocks and where towns meet the bush land. You can go to regional cities or you can go to Melbourne, stay with family and friends but please if you’re in a bushfire risk area, please leave and leave early.
“Make those arrangements, chat with your family and friends. Do everything possible to ensure you protect your home but also you are not in an area of risk when these conditions come through and if a fire should occur.”
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said while the total fire ban will come into effect from midnight tonight, the height of the weather system will come later tomorrow.
“[I] do anticipate the peak of the fire dangers and those winds and those temperatures to be later on in the day and may continue on well into the evening through to about midnight as that weather system makes its way through the central regions across to the Gippsland areas,” he said.
Mr Heffernan implored people to take action, clean up properties, cut grass and clear gutters in bushfire risk areas, as well as being prepared with multiple sources of information.
“Always have more than one source of information whether it be the VicEmergency app, the VicEmergency website or listening to your emergency broadcaster,” he said.
With many emergency events occurring over the last few weeks, Mr Nugent thanked all emergency service workers and volunteers for their efforts.
“Thank you to our magnificent volunteers in all of our agencies, particularly SES and CFA, who over the last few weeks have just worked every single day working to keep the community safe, putting out fires, mopping up storms, cleaning up areas, they’ve been absolutely amazing.”
