Residents across the east were asked to brace yet again for both storm and fire risk with winds up to 80km per hour expected and a total fire ban in place for the central district on Thursday 22 February.
While the storm did not “pack as much punch” as the previous week’s storm in the east, fire crews from District 13 responded to a major blaze that’s not yet under control in the state’s west.
Firefighters from Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Silvan, Kallista-The Patch, Belgrave, Badger Creek, Warrandyte and Scoresby were among the initial strike team who responded to Beaufort.
More than 500 firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which has burnt through 17,000 hectares.
Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan has expressed “grave concern” about the forecast, particularly on Wednesday 28 February.
“We’re expecting not only high temperatures but also wind…and given the hot weather that we’ve had in recent weeks a lot of drying has occurred,” she said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted extreme fire danger in western Victoria for Wednesday.
“There’s a possibility that even more areas could see that extreme fire danger rating or even a chance they could be upgraded to catastrophic fire danger,” meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Advice from VicEmergency states residents should assess their bushfire plan and movements for Wednesday and have multiple routes prepared for exit should roads suddenly close.
Last week, several thousand homes were without power again with the Lilydale power grid experiencing a fault.
Wandin East, Wandin North, Seville, Silvan, Gruyere, Mount Evelyn, Kalorama and Coldstream were impacted, with close to 5000 homes without power.
Further incidents were recorded along the Emerald power line in Macclesfield, Avonsleigh, Cockatoo and Emerald.
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has commissioned an independent review into the wild weather event on 13 February which left more than half a million properties without power.
“We had a similar review following the 2021 storm events,” Premier Jacinta Allan told reporters on Tuesday 20 February.
“It is appropriate and usual practice that following a weather event like this you engage the expert advice to look at what happened and then put in place any further recommendations.”
Ms D’Ambrosio also criticised the outer eastern suburb power supplier AusNet last week after a delay in the application system for compensation.
She said the delay was not on and made her anger clear in conversations with the provider.
“Here is another example where a privatised power company has failed to deliver in time for communities that are in need,” Ms D’Ambrosio told reporters at state parliament on Wednesday 21 February.
“It is absolutely unacceptable.”
The Federal and Victorian Government’s have partnered on a coordinated cleanup, with the help of disaster recovery specialist Hansen Yuncken.
The cleanup will include the demolition of damaged houses, asbestos and other hazard disposal, as well as hazardous tree removal.
The Victorian Government will also establish a centralised green waste facility for the cleanup and is continuing to work with the Commonwealth Government to finalise its location.
It adds to the emergency re-establishment grants of up to $49,300 for people who are uninsured and their primary place of residence has been destroyed or is uninhabitable and the Community Recovery Officer deployed to Ararat Rural City, Casey City, Cardinia Shire, South Gippsland Shire and Yarra Ranges Shire to help identify the recovery needs of individuals and families.
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service is also providing support to people who may be ineligible for grants but still had a loss of food, and/or extra fuel or ice expenses by providing free vouchers for food and/or fuel.
DRERS is open 9am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday, and can be contacted on 9754 7777 or enquire@drers.org.au
