Victoria enacts statewide fire ban ahead of ‘extreme’ Boxing Day conditions, 40C+ temperatures

One Aussie state has issued a sweeping ban due to “extreme” dangers over the Christmas period – prompted by dual threats of scorching temperatures and raging fires.

A total fire ban has been issued for Victoria ahead of “extreme” conditions on Boxing Day.

No fires can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight for the entirety of boxing day, starting at 12.01am.

Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief Jason Heffernan said the harsh ban was declared due to soaring temperatures in the mid40s combined with winds of up to 100km/h, making it “difficult for firefighters to suppress a fire should one start”.

“We want people to continue to enjoy the holiday period but fire safety is a joint responsibility,” he said.

“Follow the strict conditions associated with the Total Fire Ban declaration and understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”

Existing fires in Grampians National Park have left Victorian officials on edge, with over 43,000 hectares of land burned.

Victorians have been warned over the out of control Grampians fire which has burned over 43,000 hectares so far. Picture: Supplied

CFA Victoria Chief Officer Jason Heffernan is considering a statewide fire ban for Boxing Day. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Mr Heffernan said that “the fires already burning in the landscape” are a concern as well as any new fires.

“The fire at the Grampians National Park hasn’t been contained and is likely to spread further under the forecast conditions on 26 December.”

Mr Heffernan initially forecasted the ban at a press conference on Monday.

“The fuel is very dry. The bush is dry. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is ready to burn,” he warned.

Residents near a bushfire in the Grampians that has burned through nearly 44,000 hectares in Victoria’s west were given the opportunity to return home briefly to collects presents.

“(This is) to ensure if the residents of Halls Gap will be relocated for Christmas, at least they will have what they need,” Mr Heffernan said.

Nearly 44,000 hectares has been burned due to an out of control bushfire in the Grampians. Picture: Victoria Emergency

A CFA spokesman confirmed residents and business owners would be allowed to return to Halls Gap between 10am and 12pm on Tuesday to collect essential items and secure their properties.

However, he emphasised residents would not be asked to leave via a door knock or notification.

“There’s a continued fire risk, everyone must be gone by 12pm,” the spokesman said.

“There will not be a door knock or notification for people to leave.

“Access to Halls Gap will be via the junction of Grampians Rd and Ararat Halls Gap Rd.”

People will need to provide proof of residence, such as a drivers license, as Victoria Police will be there to check IDs.

BUSHFIRE BURNS THROUGH CLOSE TO 44,000 HECTARES

Victorians have been urged to remain vigilant amid the heat as the bushfires in the Grampians have burned through close to 44,000 ha as of Tuesday morning.

Mr Heffernan is expected to confirm whether a total fire ban will be issued for the entire state on Tuesday, as people in affected areas have been urged to decide whether they stay or leave.

Chief fire officer Chris Hardman earlier pleaded: “We don’t want anyone to die, we want everybody to come through this alive and well.”

“People don’t really know what 40-odd thousand hectares is, but it is a lot of fire on the landscape and when that weather changes on Boxing Day, the fire will move and it will move rapidly,” Mr Hardman said.

CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook urged those travelling on Boxing Day to download the VicEmergency app before leaving.

Residents in Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap, have been told it’s “not safe to return” to the area as of late Monday night, according to Victoria Emergency.

Residents have been told it's 'not safe to return' as the Grampians bushfire continues to burn. Picture: Ocean Grove Fire Brigade/Hamilton Fire Brigade

A watch and act has also been issued for Barton, Mafeking and Watgani, Bellellen, Black Range, Great Western, Jallukar, Lake Fyans, Londonderry, Moyston, Rhymney, Willaura North, Lake Fyans and Pomonal.

“The situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be ready to act,” the alert stated.

There are relief centres open at Alexandra Oval Community Centre (1 Waratah Ave, Ararat) and Grampians Community Health (known as “The Shacc”, 22 Patrick Street Stawell), while a community meeting is set to be held at 11am at Moyston Hall at 12 Brooke St on Tuesday.

The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Ararat Rural City Council Facebook page and will also be shared to the Vic Emergency Facebook page.

Other areas, including Bornes Hill, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Grampians, Jimmy Creek, Karabeal, Mirranatwa, Strathmore, Victoria Point, Victoria Valley, Kia Ora, Willaura, Wartook, and Zumsteins have been urged to “stay informed”.

VICTORIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA WARNED OF “EXTREME” FESTIVE WEATHER

Temperatures are set to soar in Melbourne to from a top of 30C to 40C between Christmas and Boxing Day, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning heat records could be smashed.

“Melbourne could be the warmest day for the first day of the Boxing Day test that we’ve seen on record,” the Bureau’s senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.

'Extreme' fire danger ratings have been issued as temperatures are set to soar on Boxing Day. Picture: Stormcast.

Fire danger ratings across Victoria are likely to increase to high on Christmas Day and extreme on Boxing Day.

Impacted areas include Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central and West and South Gippsland.

The Boxing Day warnings come with the exception of East Gippsland, which has been issued a lower rating of “high”.

South Australia is also set to swelter through a heat spell, with a maximum temperature of 37C forecast for Christmas Day.

Extreme fire danger warnings have been issued for the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty Ranges and Yorke Peninsula on Christmas Day.

Temperatures are expected to drop to a high of 33C in Adelaide on Boxing Day, though extreme fire danger ratings remain in place across Flinders, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East on Thursday.

BUSHFIRE WARNING FOR BOXING DAY

 Incident Control Centre forest fire management deputy incident controller Glenn Rudolph said extreme fire weather on Boxing Day could cause spot fires as northerly and north westerly winds combine with high temperatures.

During a community meeting at Moyston Hall on Tuesday, Mr Rudolph pointed to a “worst case potential impact area” far exceeding the current warnings in the area.

“It’s not meant to be alarmist, but if something happens at a point of this line does take off, that’s what we’re predicting may happen if the fires not suppressed, early and also an accumulation of long distance spotting,” he said.

“This isn’t what we’re expecting the fire to look like at the end of Thursday, but it is the potential … it is an extreme scenario but potential.

“If you live in this area … you need to be prepared and you need to pay attention to the messaging on the Victoria Emergency app particularly during Thursday.”

Several warnings remain in place following a bushfire at the Grampians. Picture: North Hamilton Rural Fire Brigade/Facebook

Mark Gunning, CFA assistant chief fire officer for district 17, said there had already been fire spotting up to 10-15km away from the Grampians bushfire, while a firefighter had also been struck by a falling tree limb this week.

“Thursday is a different beast, so if we get spot fires they will build really rapidly, really quickly,” Mr Gunning said.

BUSHFIRES “SCARY” FOR ADULTS

Mr Gunning said while it’s important to be physically prepared, he said the psychological affects of the fire can also be significant.

“Everybody I talk to post-fire talks about ‘You told us things will fall out the sky … but you didn’t tell us how scary it is’,” he said.

He reflected on a story from the 2015 Wye River fires, where he had a family with a “real robust fire plan” who had planned to stay.

“Six months after the fire I said to this guy ‘How’d your plan go?’” he said.

“He said ‘It went exactly to plan … I’d never have my wife and children here again.”

The man told Mr Gunning he was scared himself as homes exploded around him, but that he “couldn’t focus on the fire and the family”.

“He said ‘Next time when you say go, they’re out’,” he said.

Residents have been urged to get their fire plans ready to go. Picture: Supplied

Mr Gunning also flagged that while people have typically had hours to prepare to leave during this bushfire, residents may get “less than that” on Friday.

He urged people to get their fire plan ready.

“If you think you’re going to go we’d prefer you to leave early,” he said.

“If you’re a ‘wait and see person’, and I hope you’re not … history has shown that can be a deadly option

“We could get numerous spot fires, you could actually find you’re trying to escape one fire and you’re moving into another.”

He also encouraged people to stay hydrated in the lead up to Boxing Day.

“Making sure you’re hydrated, pre-hydrated — doesn’t mean have a big day on Santa’s stubbies, not saying don’t have a beer for Christmas Day, I’m not that big a grinch,” he said.

“But again you want to be hydrated for Boxing Day.”

Mr Gunning urged people to look out for neighbours and loved ones who may not be as tech savvy and not as able to check for online updates.

Originally published as Victoria enacts statewide fire ban ahead of ‘extreme’ Boxing Day conditions, 40C+ temperatures