Victoria to see extreme fire conditions on Friday as officials warn any bushfires that break out will be ‘uncontrollable’
The entirety of Victoria will likely see extreme fire behaviour conditions on Friday amid an ongoing heatwave, officials said, warning that any fires that do break out will likely be uncontrollable amid hot, dry, windy conditions.
Jason Heffernan, the chief officer of the Country Fire Authority, said total fire bans would continue for some areas across the state on Thursday, saying officials are preparing for the impacts of the heatwave in the coming days.
We are expecting the upper end of extreme across the entire state of Victoria for Friday. We will see yet again the continuation of those mid 40 degrees temperatures, and an even greater increasing of those very hot northerly winds
Fires under these conditions are uncontrollable. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will spread very quickly
Vicki Ward, the Victorian minister for emergency services, said conditions will be “incredibly challenging” over the next few days. Officials warned all Victorians to be prepared with an evacuation plan and for any unexpected power outages.
Key events
Current bushfire warnings around Australia
Here are the current fire warnings in place around Australia, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
For today, the weather bureau is warning of extreme fire danger for the central, south-west and Wimmera regions of Victoria.
The bureau says there are very hot and dry conditions in these areas with moderate to fresh north to north-westerly winds.
A milder south-west to southerly change was expected to develop in the south-west in the early afternoon then extend across the western and central districts in the late afternoon and evening.
People in the Ashburton coast and Exmouth Gulf coast districts of Western Australia have also been warned of extreme fire danger today.
The weather bureau says that in these areas, hot conditions combined with fresh and gusty south to south-westerly winds during the afternoon and early evening periods have led to extreme fire danger over parts of the western Pilbara on Tuesday and today.
In South Australia, extreme fire danger is forecast for the following districts: west coast, eastern Eyre Peninsula, lower Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, mid-north, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Riverland, Murraylands, upper south-east and lower south-east.
The weather bureau expected very hot and dry conditions with north to north-westerly winds followed by a fresh south-westerly change about the west and south to result in extreme fire danger over much of the state today.
As for tomorrow, an extreme fire danger warning was in place for the Mallee, north-east and northern country districts of Victoria.
In these regions, the weather bureau has forecast hot and dry conditions with moderate to fresh north to north-westerly winds expected to develop over northern Victoria on Thursday which should persist through the afternoon and ease during the evening.
Isolated thunderstorms were possible during the afternoon and evening, but very little rain was expected and the storms carry the risk of dry lightning and damaging wind gusts, the bureau said.
Extreme fire danger was also expected in the mid-north district of South Australia, where hot and dry conditions combined with fresh north to north-west winds shifting south-west in the afternoon were expected to increase the risk of fire.
Fire authorities have advised people in regions at extreme risk of fire to action their bushfire survival plans now and monitor the fire and weather situation through local radio, the Bureau of Meteorology website and their state emergency websites.
Petra Stock
Animals given ice blocks at zoos as one closes due to heat
With Murray Bridge, in South Australia’s Murraylands region, forecast to reach 46C on Wednesday, nearby Monarto Safari Park made the decision to close.
The animals were coping well, staff said, with most having access to shade, water holes and indoor areas.
Adelaide zoo remained open, as temperatures in the city hit 43C.
During periods of extreme heat, keepers at both zoos adjust daily routines and provide cooling options such as ice blocks, cooling mats, fans and misters, while closely monitoring animal behaviour to ensure their comfort and welfare.
Adelaide zoo has shared some photos with us of some of their animals with their ice blocks.
St John Ambulance offers advice on how to stay safe in the heat
Marian Casey from St John Ambulance was on the ABC a short time ago talking about the signs of heat exhaustion or fatigue that you should look out for.
Casey said anyone doing any physical activity today should make sure they stay cool.
If you’ve got air conditioning, turn it on, she said, and make sure that you stay hydrated.
She added that, if someone starts feeling unwell, if they feel dizzy or even start vomiting, make sure that you look after them.
Give them some cool water to drink, she said. Use a wet towel or a cloth to cool them down and if they start vomiting or become unconscious, make sure that you call triple zero.
She said anyone outside, especially doing any sort of physical activity, should be really careful because heat exhaustion can “come on quite quickly”.
If you start feeling warm or overheated, stop physical activity and find some cool shade, she said.
In terms of the physical signs to look out for, she said:
The first symptom is obviously that they’re going to start feeling warm, start feeling thirsty and then they’ll start feeling dizzy.
And the more extreme symptoms can be, as said, vomiting or loss of consciousness.
Cait Kelly
For Anchor Community Care, a homelessness service that works in the north-east of Melbourne, the issue is complex – many of the rough sleepers it has as clients live in bushland, making fire danger a main concern.
Leanne Nicholson, Anchor’s acting CEO, said:
We work closely with the local CFA and police to advise on the locations and needs of our local rough sleeper population.
Heat like this is a very serious threat to the lives of people sleeping rough.
AIHW data shows that the median age of death for rough sleepers in Australia is just 46. This is 36 years less than the rest of the population – almost half of their life lost as a result of experiencing homelessness.
This is due to the health impacts that come with an experience of homelessness. The threat is very real for our rough sleepers during extreme weather and their lives are at risk unless we do all we can to support them.
It’s crucial that a priority is placed on the health and safety of our most vulnerable people. Their experience of homelessness doesn’t make them less deserving of the dignity, safety and health afforded to the rest of Australia.
Cait Kelly
Homelessness services in Victoria go into overdrive in heatwave
Launch Housing says it is moving rough sleepers into emergency accommodation to keep them out of the heat in Victoria.
Janita Suter, the head of marketing and communications, said:
Our outreach workers are out keeping people hydrated, making sure they’re staying in shade, giving out drinks and cooling supplies. We are offering more emergency accommodation to keep people out of the heat.
The people most at risk are those with chronic medical conditions, socially isolated, and older Australians over 65. We are monitoring for the signs of heat exhaustion.
She said heatwaves were often the organisation’s busiest time, keeping not just clients but staff safe, while getting people off the streets.
Launch has existing relationships with hotels, which we know are suitable for different cohorts. And we are drawing upon existing funds for this because there are no additional funds.
Cait Kelly
Government urged to switch off mutual obligations in heatwaves
The Antipoverty Centre has written to key ministers requesting mutual obligations (MOs) are switched off in heatwaves.
Jobseekers are required to meet mutual obligation requirements – such as attending meetings with an employment provider – to receive their payments. But when a natural disaster occurs, the government turns the system off for those in the impacted area.
In the letter, sent to the federal minister for employment and workplace relations, Amanda Rishworth, the centre’s research and policy adviser, Jay Coonan, called for MOs to be turned off. He wrote:
I understand that changes were requested of providers to change servicing arrangements to limit people attending activities in person, however from past experience we know that these requests from the department rarely trickle down to the street-level.
The only effective way to protect a person in these conditions is to give them the confidence to refuse any demands of their providers and to seek safety at home or in a third space that provides relief and any support a person may need.
Catie McLeod
Hi, I hope you’ve had a nice day so far. I’ll be with you on the blog until this evening.
Nick Visser
That’s all from me. Catie McLeod will be your guide. Take care.
Victoria to see extreme fire conditions on Friday as officials warn any bushfires that break out will be ‘uncontrollable’
The entirety of Victoria will likely see extreme fire behaviour conditions on Friday amid an ongoing heatwave, officials said, warning that any fires that do break out will likely be uncontrollable amid hot, dry, windy conditions.
Jason Heffernan, the chief officer of the Country Fire Authority, said total fire bans would continue for some areas across the state on Thursday, saying officials are preparing for the impacts of the heatwave in the coming days.
We are expecting the upper end of extreme across the entire state of Victoria for Friday. We will see yet again the continuation of those mid 40 degrees temperatures, and an even greater increasing of those very hot northerly winds
Fires under these conditions are uncontrollable. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will spread very quickly
Vicki Ward, the Victorian minister for emergency services, said conditions will be “incredibly challenging” over the next few days. Officials warned all Victorians to be prepared with an evacuation plan and for any unexpected power outages.
British man charged with displaying Nazi symbols asks to be voluntarily removed from country after visa cancelled
A British national facing deportation for alleged offences has caused a potential federal standoff after requesting removal from Australia, AAP reports.
Kayn Adam Charles Wells, 43, was arrested at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, in November following an Australian Federal Police national security investigation.
Wells was charged with displaying Nazi symbols and posting harmful content on the social media site X and granted bail. Federal police also allegedly found several weapons “including swords bearing swastika symbology, axes and knives” in Wells’ possession.
Home affairs minister, Tony Burke, cancelled Wells’ visa on 23 December and the Briton was taken into immigration detention, facing deportation. Wells signed a Department of Home Affairs form requesting voluntary removal on Tuesday, a day before he faced Caboolture magistrates court.
He cannot be prosecuted if he is removed from the country.
Eelemarni Close-Brown
NSW health system preparing for ‘searing temperatures’ over coming days
NSW health minister, Ryan Park, said today is about the state’s health system and emergency services getting prepared ahead of a forecast heatwave in Sydney and other parts of the state.
“We know that over the next few days we are going to see searing temperatures here in Sydney, western Sydney and other parts of New South Wales,” Park said.
Park also urged individuals to take steps to “try to reduce the burden on our services across New South Wales”.
He urged people to exercise in the cooler parts of the day, and not during the middle of the day or after lunch, as parts of Sydney will reach temperatures close to 44C.
Other advice included consuming water throughout the day to avoid dehydration, looking after vulnerable family members particularly older people and young children and not leaving young children in a car for any length of time. Park said:
It is absolutely critical that people understand over the next few days that car temperatures that are left stationary will soar in a matter of minutes and that can have catastrophic outcomes for young children.
Cait Kelly
Cool kits and $100 vouchers for drinks and food available to Melburnians in need amid heatwave
Chief heat officer at the City of Melbourne, Krista Milne, said the council had activated its cool hubs, which included the libraries, pools and community neighbourhood centres, to keep people safe.
She said:
We are making sure everyone has a cool place to go. So if they’re out on the streets, and they’re feeling hot, they can visit one of those places.
Community safety officers have also been going around the CBD, checking on those experiencing homelessness and handing out cool kits. The kits include water, Hydralite, towels people can wet and put over their necks and maps of cool places in the city.
They are also offering those who need it, $100 7-Eleven vouchers so they can buy cool drinks and feed themselves.
With the heatwave building through the next three days, that will be the community safety officers’ focus. They’re out there with those vouchers, engaging with people, making sure they have options and are safe. At this point, there haven’t been any issues reported.
She said the council also had a cool route map up online, so people could plan the coolest way to get form A to B, when they were out in the city. Residents in the City of Melbourne can also swim at the outdoor pools for $2 in January.
Lord Mayor, Nick Reece, also called for people to stay safe in the heat:
We want every Melburnian to take the heatwave seriously. If you need to cool down, head to one of our libraries, cool places or swimming pools – and our community safety officers have bottled water on hand for those who need it.
Cait Kelly
Melbourne libraries become designated cooling spots
Libraries across Melbourne have become designated cooling spots, extending their hours, making sure there is water and staff checking in on people sheltering from the heat. Cool spots with extended hours include those in Yarra, Port Philip and Maribyrnong.
Despite running air-con and free drinking water, both the St Kilda library and North Fitzroy were quiet leading up to lunch.
A regular at St Kilda said a few of the locals who are homeless had come in to take shelter from the heat, but it was not any busier than a normal Wednesday.
The streets in the inner suburbs are quiet, with hardly anyone out. Most businesses are keeping their doors closed to keep in the cool air.
Anthony Albanese attends funeral of Bondi victim Peter Meagher
The prime minister was in Sydney today to attend the funeral of former NSW police detective sergeant Peter Meagher, who was killed in the Bondi terror attack.
Albanese placed holy water on the coffin at St Mary’s Cathedral in the CBD. Meagher was working as a freelance photographer at the event on 14 December when he was killed.
His funeral is the last to take place after the mass shooting.
Petra Stock
Extreme heat can increase risk of power outages, but here’s how to prepare
Electricity network company Powercor said networks were designed to cope in the heat, however extreme conditions could increase the risk of outages.
It was closely monitoring the situation and ready to respond, asking customers to prepare in case of localised outages. A spokesperson said:
Victorians can act too by preparing for power outages as part of their emergency plan. They should charge phones and other devices, have a battery-powered radio available for real time news updates, and sign up for SMS notifications about power supplies at www.powercor.com.au/notify.
People that rely on life support equipment or need electrical items to care for others should have a back-up plan ready.
Another emergency warning in place in central Victoria over grassfire
There’s another emergency warning in place in central Victoria around the Moyreisk, Natte Yallock, Redbank and Stuart Mill areas due to a grassfire, with residents in the area urged to leave immediately. Details on that incident are below.
