Total Fire Ban declared for Monday

THE CFA has declared a Total Fire Ban (TFB) due to elevated fire danger conditions for tomorrow (Monday, December 16) that will apply across most of Victoria, including the Southwest, Wimmera, Mallee, Central, North Central, Northern Country and the West and South Gippsland regions.

The TFB means no fires can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am tomorrow until 11.59pm.

Forecasts predict hot, dry, and windy conditions across Victoria.

Maximum temperatures are expected to reach between 42°C to 47°C in the north of the state and 33°C to 42°C in the south.

Strong north to northwest winds, with damaging gusts of up to 80 kmh, are expected ahead of a south to south-westerly cool change, which will sweep across the state from the southwest at about 2pm, extend further west by 5pm, and reach central parts of the state by 8pm.

Before the change, dry thunderstorms and lightning are possible, while the change itself may bring wet thunderstorms.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan urged Victorians to take these conditions seriously and prepare accordingly.

“Total Fire Bans are declared to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading in dangerous weather conditions,” he said.

“With strong winds and the potential for fire spotting up to 2–3 km ahead of the main fire front, any fire that starts could spread rapidly and threaten homes, communities, and lives.”

He reminded residents in all TFB regions to have their bushfire survival plans ready and act early if conditions worsen.

“If you live in a fire-prone area, now is the time to review your fire plan and make sure you are prepared to leave early if needed,” he said.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late to act.

“A Total Fire Ban means harvesting activities, like operating headers or tractors, must be carefully managed, as sparks or heat from equipment can easily ignite dry grass.

“Fireworks and open-air fires, including campfires, are completely off-limits too.”

Non-compliance with Total Fire Ban restrictions can result in heavy penalties, including fines or imprisonment.

“Staying informed and acting early can make all the difference in a fire emergency,” Mr Heffernan said.

Tune into emergency broadcasts, visit emergency.vic.gov.au, and keep updated on the latest conditions in your area.”

Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban by heading to cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.

For more information on what you can and can’t do, head to the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website.

Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information. These include:

• ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News
• The VicEmergency app
• The VicEmergency website at emergency.vic.gov.au
• The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226, and
• CFA or VicEmergency X (Twitter) or Facebook.