The entire Yarra Ranges region is being urged to heed warnings and act early, as Friday is shaping up to be one of the “most dangerous fire weather days since Black Summer”.
Temperatures are set to reach 42 degrees in Healesville, Yarra Glen and Lilydale, and 40 degrees across the Dandenong Ranges.
A statewide total fire ban (TFB) has been declared by the CFA for Friday 9 January, with the restriction coming into effect at 12.01am until 11.59pm. No fires can be lit during this time period, and all fires lit previously must be fully extinguished before midnight.
Total fire bans also place restrictions on the use of outdoor cooking, some barbequing, welding, beekeeping and the use of some machinery and power tools. Visit: cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/fire-bans-ratings-and-restrictions/can-i-or-cant-i for a full list of restrictions.
Victoria faces fire dangers in the upper end of extreme on Friday, with the districts of South West, Wimmera, Northern Country and North Central to meet catastrophic levels, State Control Centre spokesman David Nugent said.
“Catastrophic fire danger rating is the most dangerous set of conditions for us for firefighting,” he said.
“If a fire starts and takes hold, lives and homes are likely to be lost.”
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Bri Macpherson said Friday was a significant fire danger day because vegetation dried out by lingering hot air combined with winds and dry thunderstorms increased the risk of ignition.
Ground crews were preparing for aggressive first attacks to douse fires before they could take hold, Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said.
“If we can’t catch those fires when they’re small – and I mean really small, one tree burning through lightning – then those fires are going to get big and have dreadful impacts on the community,” he said.
Local fire brigades have broadcast messages across their social media pages, urging people to act early, stick to their fire plans and take the warnings seriously.
The Yarra Ranges, as part of the central district, falls within an extreme fire danger rating zone for Friday 9 January, with the potential for this to change depending on conditions.
Hillcrest and Montrose Fire Brigades posted to social media to inform their communities of the risk and need for prompt action.
“We want to speak plainly about what is forecast for Friday 9 January, because this is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous fire weather days since Black Summer (2019/20),” Hillcrest CFA said.
“A late south-westerly wind change has the potential to rapidly turn the flank or edge of a large fire into a fast-moving, wide fire front, placing new areas at risk with little warning.
“These are the kinds of conditions that have driven major fire events, including during the 2019/20 and 2009 fire seasons.”
Montrose CFA said an extreme rating could see any fire that starts “move quickly, be very difficult to stop, and be extremely dangerous”.
“Friday has all the conditions we never want to see in a fire season.”
This includes temperatures above 40 degrees, winds of 30 to 50 kilometres per hour and a late south-westerly cool change.
“The heat and wind are obvious dangers — but the cool change is critical. A cool change can bring dry lightning or storms, which may start new fires,” the brigade’s post reads.
“More importantly, for any fire already burning, a wind change can be catastrophic. What was previously the flank or side of a fire suddenly becomes the new head of the fire after the change.”
Two emergency warnings remain in place for a blaze burning at Longwood in northern Victoria, with residents told to leave immediately before conditions become too dangerous.
Another bushfire continues to burn more than 1000 hectares at Mount Lawson on the border of Victoria and NSW.
Firefighters and vehicles have been deployed to both fires from brigades including Sassafras-Ferny Creek, Little Yarra, Dandenong Ranges Group, Coldstream, Bayswater, Olinda, Hillcrest and Rowville.
If enacting a plan to leave fire areas, it is recommended that people seek refuge at shopping centres, pools, cinemas, libraries and other indoor facilities in urban areas, beyond the urban fringe.
“When authorities say leave early, they mean before a fire starts, not when smoke is visible or sirens are sounding,” Hillcrest said.
“In Extreme or Catastrophic conditions, waiting to see what happens can remove your safest option.”
Both brigades said, “this is not about panic”, but about staying informed and reducing a mass exodus should a fire break out.
“It’s about recognising the dangers in the forecast, learning from past fire seasons, and making informed decisions early.
“We are hoping, really hoping that the predicted conditions don’t pan out but we need you to be ready just in case.
“Please take the time now to prepare, talk with family and neighbours, and have a clear plan for tomorrow that everyone knows.”
