Music festival attendees advised to leave due to extreme fire danger

A sold-out music festival in Victoria’s South West will go ahead after attendees were advised to leave as the Country Fire Authority issued an extreme fire danger rating.

Attendees have been advised to leave a music festival in Victoria’s south west.

A music festival in Victoria’s south west will go ahead after attendees were advised to leave due to an extreme fire danger rating, with an extreme heatwave warning also in place for the region.

Pitch Music and Arts Festival organisers have stopped short of cancelling the event, confirming at midday on Saturday that while music programming had been delayed, it would commence that evening.

“Following the update which was provided yesterday, and after consultation this morning with CFA, Victoria Police and other members of the Emergency Management teams, Pitch Music & Arts music programming will commence at 6pm today (Saturday) and will continue as scheduled for the remainder of the event,” the statement read.

“At the time of writing there are no active fires in the region and we wish to reassure you that those who are on site have access to ample shade, cooling misting fans, food and water.

“For those yet to arrive at the festival, we advise you to follow the CFA directions of delaying your travel.”

Organisers said they were running free shuttle buses for anyone who wished to leave the festival, and said they had various methods of communicating the information to patrons who were without mobile and internet services.

Thousands of music fans have been advised to leave or hold off arriving at Pitch Music and Arts Festival due to extreme fire danger.

The update comes after festival organisers issued a statement on their website and social media channels on Friday night advising guests the safest option was to leave.

“CFA have advised the Bureau of Meteorology have forecast an Extreme Fire Danger Rating for the South West Weather District for Saturday 9 March 2024. This includes the site for the Pitch Music and Arts Festival. Further CFA has declared a Total Fire Ban for this area for Saturday,” the statement read.

“The CFA recommends that the safest option for those who are already on site is to leave the site tonight or early in the morning.

“The CFA advises the fire danger rating is extreme which recommends you reconsider travel through bushfire risk areas and that leaving bushfire risk areas early in the day is your safest option because fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous. Expect hot, dry and

windy conditions.

“Those who choose to stay, please ensure you are prepared for a severe heatwave over the entirety of the weekend. If you are arriving on Saturday we recommend delaying your arrival until further notice.”

Some commenters expressed anger at Friday night’s statement on the festival’s Facebook page, with one writing that it was “reckless and negligent” for organisers to allow the event to go ahead.

“Has this advice been adequately communicated to people who are at the event? There is no internet or phone coverage on site! How would they even be aware of this?” the commentator wrote.

Another wrote it was “deplorable” the festival was going ahead.

“It is unfair on the locals and fire services who may have to divert resources because of a large gathering in order to protect people. It’s also not fair on the medical workers, security and all the staff who are providing services to have to work in such extreme conditions,” the commenter wrote.

The annual music festival - which is sold out and scheduled to run from Friday to Tuesday with guests camping in the grounds - takes place in Moyston, about 20 km from Ararat.

A ticket for the full four days of the festival, including camping, was priced at about $518.

On Saturday, an extreme heatwave warning, extreme fire danger rating and total fire ban remained in place in the area, with temperatures forecast to reach 38 degrees in Ararat.

A CFA spokesperson said it advised the Pitch event organisers on Friday afternoon to put their Emergency Management Plan into action as result of the extreme fire danger rating.

“Emergency agencies and local government work with organisers of events to plan for potential emergencies as part of event permit applications,” the spokesperson said.