A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the whole state of Victoria tomorrow, Saturday 24 January.
Victoria is set to experience severe heatwave conditions and elevated fire danger right across the long weekend and into Tuesday, with temperatures set to reach 38-44 degrees statewide.
Hot, north to north-westerly winds will gust up to 60km/hr and cross the central and western parts before changing to a gusty south-westerly of up to 70km/hr in the late afternoon.
Tomorrow’s hot, dry conditions, particularly in the western and southern parts, coupled with Extreme Fire Danger Ratings in the South West and Wimmera districts, will make it a challenging day for firefighters.
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 the TFB for the whole state has been declared due to the major fires still in the landscape and the potential for new fires to start and spread quickly in forecast conditions.
“We understand it is a long weekend, and many Victorians will be enjoying the great outdoors, but we will be declaring several Total Fire Bans over the course of this heatwave event and with that comes shared responsibility,” Mr Heffernan said.
“With fires already in the landscape, communities hurting and healing, and emergency services still on the fireground, we’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the Total Fire Bans.
“Over the next couple of days, have your bushfire plan ready to go, and have a conversation with your family so you all know what you are going to do in the event of a fire.
“Please maintain vigilance by having the VicEmergency app with watch zones set to where you are headed and have a battery-powered radio on hand tuned to your emergency broadcaster.”
Tomorrow is not the time to be complacent, and Victorians should understand how the increased fire risk will impact them.
“I appreciate that a TFB can have an impact on communities and businesses but be assured these restrictions are reviewed daily and help ensure the utmost safety to all Victorians,” Mr Heffernan said.
For more information on what you can and can’t do visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website.
People can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.
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 and website www.emergency.vic.gov.au
The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
CFA or VicEmergency Twitter or Facebook
