Extreme weather and fire danger as Victoria swelters
Power outages have affected thousands of people in Melbourne’s outer east and other Victorian towns on a scorching hot day as fire authorities extended the total fire ban for parts of the state.
Victoria
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Temperatures have been steadily rising in Melbourne’s CBD, with the city reaching 38.6C at 4.50pm on Monday.
Melbourne airport reached 40 degrees at 4pm, Avalon reached 42.6 and Frankston reached 36.7.
Geelong has stayed steady around 40 degrees since 2pm.
Multiple power outages have been reported across the state, with just under 4000 people being left without power since mid-morning in Lara.
According to Powercor’s website, power is not expected to be restored until 6:30pm.
AusNet is also reporting unplanned power outages impacting almost 5000 people near Lilydale and 2300 people near Drouin.
The cause of all outages are still under investigation.
Metro trains issued a high temperature warning on Monday morning, noting that speed restrictions may be imposed impacting regular services.
The State Control Centre Victoria announced an extension of the total fire ban for Mallee and Wimmera.
No fires can be lit in the open air until at least midnight on Tuesday.
A bushfire in Victoria’s west prompted the CFA to issue a watch and act warning for residents in Chetwynd, Kadnook and Powers Creek just before 1pm, with the threat being reduced just after 2pm.
The fire danger remains at extreme for the Wimmera region on Tuesday while Melbourne and surrounds will drop to a high rating.
A grass fire measuring 50m by 50m broke out near the West Gate Bridge on Monday, requiring a helicopter 45 FRV and CFA firefighters to respond,
The blaze was brought under control just before 2pm.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this stage, but due to challenging weather conditions and the complexity of the incident, crews are expected to remain at the scene for some time.
It comes as the CFA’s chief officer warned that bushland in parts of the state’s west and south west were “ready to burn” ahead of Monday’s heatwave.
Some areas west of Melbourne are forecast to reach “beyond extreme” fire danger levels as temperatures climbed into the low to mid 40s on Monday.
The mercury in Melbourne’s CBDs stood at 28.4C at 9am Monday, while Avalon was recording 31.8C, Point Cook 30.7C, Scoresby 30C and Essendon 29.8C.
The CBD had hit 31.7C at 9:40am.
Members from the Country Fire Authority, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria have already began to mobilise around the state, with 54 contracted aircraft moved into position on Sunday.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said while conditions would likely be hot and unpleasant throughout the day, emergency services were turning their attention to rural areas in the west and south west of the state ahead of Monday.
“The bush is ready to burn,” Mr Heffernan said.
Following years of relative drought and low soil moisture, he said a beyond extreme fire warning was being issued for residents in Lake Bolac, Westmere and Streatham.
Temperatures are set to soar, with forecasts suggesting Mildura will face conditions as high 46 degrees.
Melburnians are expected to see the temperature climb to 41 degrees before a cool change sweeps through late on Monday night.
Isolated thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 60km/h will batter areas in western and central Victoria.
BOM senior meteorologist Michael Efron warned “dry lighting” may cause fire starts in some areas.
A total fire ban is in place for the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central, Central (includes Melbourne and Geelong) and West and South Gippsland districts of Victoria on Monday.
No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air until at least 11:59pm Monday.
Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman warned those in fire prone areas to consider leaving their homes early and before conditions get too hot on Monday.
“It is really important that you’re not leaving during the heat of the day,” Mr Hardman said.
“We don’t know where and when a fire can start and quite simply, that fire can start and you could be on the road and that could be devastating.
“We saw that on Black Saturday, let’s not see that happen again.”
Mr Hardman said he was worried heading into Monday, with special consideration made to those currently harvesting in the western regions of Victoria.
“I am concerned leading into tomorrow, it will be a very nasty day,” he said.
“Harvest is still going … because of those rains that we saw a week or two ago, harvest was postponed.
“So there’s a lot of fuel out there, there’s still a lot of activity going on in that space and we really want the community do their bit.”
As part of their preparations ahead of Monday, the national large air tanker has been deployed to Albury and will be made available for hot spots in Victoria.
Despite no fires appearing in the landscape on Sunday, Mr Hardman said he feared firefighters would have a “challenging” day ahead of them.
Residents near the Wyperfeld National Park, the Grampians, the Wombat State Forest, the Great Otway National Park and the Lower Glenelg National Park have been warned they will be in the highest fire risk zones.
Reckless fires a growing threat
Don’t be an accidental arsonist.
That’s the message from police who want Victorians to stop and think this summer, with unintentional fires having the same catastrophic effect as those deliberately lit during hot weather.
The Arson and Explosives Squad said simple things such as a barbecue, a campsite fire or using machinery during extreme days could lead to the same devastating consequences. And the punishment is the same.
Almost 300 officers across Victoria will monitor known arsonists, but the force is reminding the community that they have personal responsibility to stop fire from happening.
Recklessly lit fires are an increasing concern for Victoria Police.
Last year 21 bushfires – almost half – were due to unintended actions. The most common causes were:
• LEAVING campfires unattended;
• USE of tools such as angle grinders and welding equipment;
• BONFIRES; and
• FARMING machinery like slashers and harvesters.
Police said anyone who causes a fire – deliberate or otherwise – could face up to 15 years in prison.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray said Victoria was one of the most fire-prone areas in the world, with a long tragic history of bushfires.
“There are so many things that the community can do to ensure the risk of bushfire is reduced this summer and the key one for us is taking personal responsibility for any fires you light or activities you undertake that could lead to a fire starting,” Inspector Murray said. “Complacency or ignorance could quite literally kill you and lead to significant loss of life and property.”
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