A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the South West, Central, Wimmera, North Central and West and South Gippsland regions tomorrow, 9 March, due to forecasted extreme weather conditions.
Tomorrow’s conditions will be hot and dry across the state, with temperatures expected to reach high 30s statewide, and low 40s in the far South West.
A severe heatwave and elevated fire danger will be driven by moderate northerly to north-westerly winds across Victoria.
A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the Total Fire Ban.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said communities should be aware of the fire danger in the areas they are traveling to this long weekend and remain informed.
“We’re expecting 40km/hr north-westerly winds across the South West in the morning with gusts of 50km/hr in the afternoon before a south westerly change later in the day,” Jason said.
“The Central district will see northerly winds of up to 45km/hr and gusts of 80km/hr in the central ranges.”
High fire danger ratings are in place across the remainder of Victoria with widespread wind gusts of up to 60km/hr expected to reach the western part of the state in the afternoon.
“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the TFB declaration and consider the activities they plan on undertaking this long weekend,” Jason said.
“Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your bushfire survival plan covers all possible contingencies, and stay up to date via the VicEmergency App.”
Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.
For more information on what you can and can’t do visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website.
Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information.
They include:
ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News
The VicEmergency App
VicEmergency website www.emergency.vic.gov.au
The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
CFA or VicEmergency Twitter or Facebook
