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The first Total Fire Ban (TFB) for the fire season has been declared for the Mallee region tomorrow, Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
Tomorrow's conditions will be hot and windy across the state, with extreme fire danger in the Mallee expecting temperatures of up to 39 degrees, while the remainder of Victoria will reach mid to high thirties.
Elevated fire danger will be driven by hot northerly winds of up to 50km/hr ahead of a south westerly wind change that will cross the state by late afternoon. Wind gusts could reach close to 80km/hr through central parts of Victoria and up to 90km/hr around elevated ranges.
A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the Total Fire Ban.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared due to the expected conditions across the Mallee but urges all Victorian residents to be aware of local forecasts.
“Tomorrow’s conditions will make it difficult for firefighters to supress a fire should one start,” Jason said.
“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the Total Fire Ban declaration.
“Understand the how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”
Last Sunday, 3 November saw CFA respond to nearly 70 grass and scrub fires, with many igniting from dry lightning and private escaped-burn offs.
“We saw a band of lightning move across the state over the weekend that caused wide-range concerns, and some of those fires took a great deal of resources and time to extinguish,” Jason said.
“The potential for dry lightning and the wind change forecast for tomorrow is a key factor, and one that both CFA members and local residents need to be aware of.
“We’re asking people in the Mallee to take action now, and for those coming off a long weekend to ensure their campfires and private burn-offs are properly extinguished before leaving the area.
“Understand the conditions and what fires are going on around you, remain vigilant, and be ready to activate or modify your fire plan with ample time.”
Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website www.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 visit 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.
They include:
- ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News
- The VicEmergency App
- The VicEmergency website www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- CFA or VicEmergency Twitter or Facebook