A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the Wimmera and South West fire weather districts tomorrow, Friday 24 February 2023.
Tomorrow's conditions in the Wimmera and South West fire weather districts will be hot and gusty with temperatures reaching low to high 30s as a severe heatwave makes its way across the south-west of the state.
Northerly wind gusts of up to 50 to 70km/h are expected tomorrow in central parts and the South West.
A Fire Danger Rating of Extreme is forecast for these districts tomorrow, with a High rating for Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, Central and Moderate in the rest of the state.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared due to the expected conditions across the South West and Wimmera districts tomorrow.
“Tomorrow’s conditions could make it difficult for firefighters to supress a fire should one start; therefore, we are asking people to take heed of the Total Fire Ban conditions,” CO Heffernan said.
“There is heightened fire activity across the state, particularly with crews working hard to suppress the Flowerdale fire this week, and we’re asking the community to do its part in preventing further fires from starting.
“People need to be aware of the increased fire danger and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”
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.
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