Three people, including a child, are currently unaccounted for, increased warnings have been issued for Alexandra, and dry lightning strikes are predicted to hit central Victoria this afternoon.
Warnings for Alexandra and Eildon have been upgraded to take shelter now and leave immediately, respectively, as the situation worsens in the Longwood fire area.
With temperatures soaring into the 40s and beyond in the northern parts of the state, as well as predicted north-westerly winds, CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the risk is extremely high.
“When a fire starts and takes hold, it will be uncontrollable. It will spread very rapidly and impact Victorian communities. We have already seen this morning,” he said.
Mr Heffernan confirmed a fire has been contained in St Andrews but an advice warning remains in place.
“I’m very concerned about a fire in St Andrews. Crews were deployed to with CFA and Forest Fire Management crews, and they were able to deploy heavy plant and put a containment line around that fire. It still remains at an advice level.
“It’s a very good point in terms of, even though it might have been fire this morning. That’s not to say when those really winds start whipping up later this afternoon, you couldn’t see certain recognition.
“So if community sees smoke, if you see fire that is not in attendance with the fire truck, please dial Triple Zero so that we know what’s going on, we can jump on and we can keep small fires small before they get hold is certainly the best strategy.”
A fire has also been contained in Warburton, along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, after igniting on Thursday night. It saw 10 vehicles respond at 9.27pm.
Dry lightning remains a major concern for the afternoon, with a frontal system meant to move across the state later in the day.
“We saw the fires generate their own lightning yesterday (8 Jan). Unfortunately, having confirmed that we are expecting a potential for more dry lightning from about two o’clock this afternoon through the central parts of the state, which will certainly be challenging for firefighters if that’s the case,” Mr Heffernan said.
“We are asking community, particularly landholders and property holders, if you have had dry lightning across your property in the last 24 hours, please check your property, and if you see a smouldering fire or lightning contact Triple Zero.”
Mr Heffernan said it remains to be seen if the frontal system will bring rain, but cooler temperatures are likely.
“We are looking at at least a week or two of campaign fires in that area. Hopefully, the weather is cooler in the next couple of days; it is summer and summer in Victoria.
“So you do see now the commencement of a fire cycle day. So a peak fire day, a number of cooler, calmer days, and then return to a peak fire day.
“We’re talking to the Bureau around when we would expect that next frontal system will be moving through the bite and when we might see our next fire day.”
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill confirmed on Friday morning that a family of three engaged a CFA representative outside their home on the morning of Thursday 8 January.
“They alerted those people that the risks are great. The risk is so high they needed to take shelter and it was too late for them to leave,” he said.
“Later that afternoon, those same fire service representatives reattended that area to see the house that they (had seen) those three people standing in front of had been completely destroyed. Those three people remain unaccounted for.
“Those three people, we do not know at this point in time where they may be. Now, that particular area in Longwood East, where that house has been destroyed, is still a hot spot, and we’re yet to be able to put strike teams from the fire services into that area to conduct an assessment for us.”
Deputy Commissioner Hill reiterated the necessity of letting family and friends know where you are or registering via register.redcross.org.au to ensure people can be accounted for.
