A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the Central and North Central regions for tomorrow, Sunday 23 February 2025.
Hot, dry, and windy conditions will elevate fire danger across the state overnight and throughout Sunday, with strengthening northerly winds continuing into the morning ahead of a west to south-westerly change.
Temperatures are expected to reach 32-36°C in the far north, 31-34°C in Gippsland, and 25-30°C elsewhere across the state. With fresh and gusty northerly winds bringing gusts of 90-100km/h in some areas, before the late change.
Due to an elevated risk of thunderstorms across central parts of the state in the early hours of Sunday morning and the possibility of dry lightning in the northwest later in the day, there is a significant fire risk from midnight tonight stretching into the early afternoon on Sunday.
A Total Fire Ban means no fires can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the declaration.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared due to the ongoing heightened fire risk.
“We are in the middle of a prolonged 36-hour period of heightened fire danger, with worsening conditions forecast early tomorrow,” Jason said.
“These conditions, including strong winds, high temperatures, and the risk of dry lightning, mean any fire that starts could spread rapidly.
“We’re urging communities to stay informed and be prepared. If you’re in a high-risk area, ensure you have multiple sources of information to keep up-to-date. Review your bushfire survival plan and make sure you know where you will go and what you need to take with you in the event of a fire.”
You can find out if your area is under a Total Fire Ban by visiting the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, and for information on what this means for you visit the Can I or Can’t I page.
Victorians should ensure they have access to multiple sources of emergency information, including:
- ABC local radio, commercial and designated emergency broadcasters
- The VicEmergency App
- The VicEmergency website: www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- The VicEmergency Hotline: 1800 226 226
- CFA or VicEmergency Twitter and Facebook