Total Fire Bans have been declared for New Year’s Eve in the South-West , Central, West and South Gippsland, North Central and Wimmera regions.
“Conditions are going to be hot and windy across much of the state. People need to exercise common sense. While fires cannot be lit in TFB areas people need to be careful everywhere,” CFA Chief Officer Joe Buffone said.
“We do not want to welcome in the New Year with a string of fires across the state.”
Under a Total Fire Ban no fires can be lit from midnight tonight (Thursday), through to midnight New Year’s Eve.
“This is going to disrupt some people’s plans for New Year’s Eve but community safety must come first,” Mr Buffone said.
“This year authorities are taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal fireworks and campfires or bonfires on a Total Fire Ban day. Forests and grass are bone dry – all it will take to start a serious fire is for one firework to be picked up by wind and land in vegetation.”
Fire Danger Ratings will be Severe in the South-West, Central and West and South Gippsland regions, and Very High in North Central and Wimmera.
Mr Buffone said people need to look out for their health and that of their neighbours.
“People in the west of the state in places like Bendigo, Horsham and Mildura are looking at temperatures around 40 degrees on both Thursday and Friday. For Thursday, a heat health alert has been issued for the North Central and Central districts – this includes Melbourne.
For more information about TFBs visit CFA’s website to check the 'Can and Can’t I' page to familiarise themselves with the rules around what is and isn’t permitted on a day of total fire ban.
Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information. They include:
Mr Buffone said that while information was easily accessible, people should not rely on receiving a warning before deciding what they will do.
Author: CFA Media