Hot, dry and windy conditions in the Wimmera and South West have triggered a Total Fire Ban (TFB) declaration by the CFA Chief Officer today, Saturday 4 January 2025.
An Extreme Fire Danger Rating has been forecast for the Wimmera district, while the rest of the state will be under a High Fire Danger Rating. On Sunday, Extreme Fire Danger Ratings have been forecast for the Mallee, Wimmera and Central districts.
On an Extreme Fire Danger day, fires will spread quickly and can be extremely dangerous. It's critical that people in these areas take action now to protect their life and property. Victorians must have a bushfire survival plan, especially if they are in bushfire risk areas.
During a Total Fire Ban, no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12:01am to 11:59pm. While only two TFBs has been declared today, hot, dry and windy conditions in the rest of the state mean any sparks or embers from other fires, such as campfires or burnoffs can easily turn into bushfires. This weekend is not the time to have a fire.
Temperatures are expected to reach the high 30s to low 40s over the weekend, with peak temperatures expected to occur on Sunday. There is also an expected cool change from late Saturday into Sunday which will come from the west of the state and may bring gusty winds.
These abnormally high temperatures have triggered a Severe Heatwave Warning for the Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland, Central and North Central districts. Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially those at higher risk, so people should seek a place to keep cool and stay hydrated.
Quotes attributable to State Response Controller, Jason Heffernan
“This weekend’s hot and windy conditions pose a big risk for the state with significant fires already in the landscape.”
"If you haven’t had a chance to make a fire plan, it’s a great new year’s resolution. The CFA website has all the information, or your local brigade is a great place to help you plan and prepare."
“Heatwaves can be incredibly dangerous, and they kill more Australians than any other natural event. If you are at home, you can close your windows and draw your blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to help keep the heat out.”
Quotes attributable to Forest Fire Management Victoria State Agency Commander, Dave Sayce
“We are ready to respond to any new fires today but Victorians need to play their part by not doing things that can cause bushfires.”
“If you’ve had a campfire last night, make sure it is properly extinguished by now, using water not soil. If it’s cool to touch, it’s safe to leave.”
Victorians are reminded to never rely on one channel for emergency information. Connect to official sources of emergency information, including
- VicEmergency app
- www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Tune in to local emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, commercial and select community radio stations, or SkyNews TV
- Phone the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- Follow VicEmergency on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter)
