January 24 Update: Extreme heat fuels Victoria bushfire threat
Victorian firefighters are on alert once more as the state braces for an additional day and night of terribly high fire danger.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is warning that forecast hot and windy conditions will intensify two fires burning within the state's east.
A watch and act alert has been issued for residents of Harrietville and Hotham Heights for a fire burning close to Mount Feathertop, whereas an advice has been issued for 11 nearby cities.
About hundreds of firefighters are on site today for the fire, which has burnt through concerning 1,300 hectares of land.
Tom Pelly from Mount Hotham Alpine Resort says everyone is on high alert with temperatures within the high 30s forecast for much of the state's east.
"If current winds continues and warms up a little bit, I think it's inevitable the fire will move slowly towards us or maybe even quickly," he said.
"It's a bit of a waiting game. I was here in '03 and it was similar then."
Another large blaze burning in Gippsland might also threaten communities stretching from glengarry through to Maffra later today.
The CFA's gary Weir says containment lines are strengthened for both fires.
"On both fires we got considerable extra line put in and back-burning," he said.
Authorities are also disturbed concerning fires breaking out in different areas of the state.
They say the fire danger is particularly high around Castlemaine, Maryborough and Avoca, and between Horsham and Warrnambool.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) deputy chief officer Steve Warrington, says there's a big risk of grass fires within the west.
"We've got hot, dry winds coming into the south-west, we've got high fuel loads, big grass, lots of dry forest in that particular area, and a late wind change," he said.
Premier Ted Baillieu says communities should not be complacent, and says the fire danger rating is extremelyhigh across the state.
"No one should be thinking this is just about the Aberfeldie or Gippsland or Harrietville in the Alpine areas," he said.
“In western Victoria and south-western Victoria and central Victoria, there are very high to significant to severe fire risks."
He then again warned would-be arsonists, saying police have arrested more than 20 people for separate incidents in recent weeks.
"Victoria Police are out there," he said.
"No-one, no-one, should be deliberately lighting a fire in open air on a day like this, and any arsonist runs the risk of lives being lost."
0 comments