Fire danger to return after rain reprieve
A warning has been issued for Victorians to remain vigilant as the state braces for another day of high fire danger and extreme weather.
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Emergency services are bracing for another day of high fire danger and extreme weather today.
A total fire ban has been put in place for most of Victoria on Wednesday, with hot weather, dry lightning and strong wind gusts forecast across the state.
Emergency Management Commisioner Andrew Crisp warned those in fire-prone areas to prepare for “another one of those days.”
“This is not a time to be complacent, this is the time to be vigilant,” Mr Crisp said.
“We should not forget what we have been confronted with.”
CFA chief Steve Warrington said western Victoria was of particular concern.
“We’ve escalated a total fire ban for six of the nine areas across the state,” he said. “Our other concerns are new starts.
“Particularly in the western part of the state and the grass areas on the western side of Melbourne.
“Our experience to date has said fire will be well carried on those conditions.
“We believe that (on Wednesday) we will struggle to extinguish a running grassfire at the height of winds, simply because of those conditions.”
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An extreme fire danger warning has been issued for the Mallee, while much of western Victoria is bracing for severe conditions.
Winds of up to 40kmh, with 80kmh gusts are expected across the state.
Forty Canadian firefighters arrived in Victoria yesterday and will be joined by another 40 from the US on Friday. The latest group of international fire crews will be deployed to Omeo and Orbost.
Government funds committed to bushfire relief
Federal Government
Overall, the Federal government’s National Bushfire Recovery Agency has pledged $2 billion, including $500 million to be spent before June 30.
The fund includes:
– $60 million to support severely impacted local councils
– $76 million for mental health support through counselling and Medicare
– $50 million to protect wildlife and habitats
– $40 million to charities providing frontline assistance
– $10 million to provide financial counselling for families
– $15 million for rural financial counsellors
– $8 million for mental health support including extra liaison officers and clinicians for schools and early childhood centres
– $76 million to support the tourism industry
– More than $100 million to help states clean up bushfire damaged buildings
State Government
The total Victorian funding contribution to the fires is $155 million to date.
– $2 million was contributed to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal on January 5 – matching existing bushfire funds donated by Victorians.
– $50 million to the new Bushfire Recovery Victoria agency, established to work with bushfire-impacted communities on the rebuilding and recovery
– Bushfire assistance of up to $560 per adult and $280 per child – up to a family maximum of $1960 – extended to communities in 14 Victorian council areas.
– $14.4 million to Victorian Bushfires Case Support Program established to provide support co-ordinators to help fire-affected families access support.
– $7.3m for councils to put in place local teams to co-ordinate and drive bushfire recovery.
– $2.55 million to Inspector-General for Emergency Management to conduct independent investigation into 2019-20 Victorian fire season.
– $1000 grants to animal shelters and foster carers.
– $10 million in Community and Emergency Services Mental Health
– $15 million in Community Recovery Hubs
– $6 million in Community Recovery Committees
– $35 million in Community Recovery and Resilience Grants
– $20 million in Immediate Reconstruction and Rebuilding Program
– $75 million to demolish, remove and safely dispose of all buildings destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
– $200,000 grants for Tourism North East and Destination Gippsland to assist with immediate recovery efforts.
– Subsidies for primary producers, including apiarists, to pay for emergency farm transport.