A Total Fire Ban has been declared for today, Thursday January 8 with an extreme fire danger across the north east.
All VLine services on the Albury line have been cancelled, including coaches to Yarrawonga and Mulwala.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the safest option for people currently in bushfire risk areas was to start planning to leave tonight or early in the morning.
“Tomorrow’s hot and erratic fire conditions will put you and your families lives at risk if a fire starts and takes hold. Fires will be unpredictable and uncontrollable,” Jason said.
“Download the VicEmergency App, stay informed, and have more than one way to receive warnings.”
On days where there is a Catastrophic Fire Danger
- Your life may depend on the decisions you make, even before there is a fire.
- You won’t always receive a warning or be told what to do if a fire starts. Don’t wait and see - it’s up to you to be prepared. Know what to do and take action.
- You should never wait to receive an official warning before you leave. Emergencies can start quickly and threaten lives and homes within minutes. Leave bushfire risk areas early in the morning or the night before.
- Be prepared for fire, monitor conditions, and know where to get information so you can make good decisions about your safety.
- If you get caught out during a fire, know where your last resort options are including Neighbourhood Safer Places and designated Community Fire Refuges. These are places of last resort when all other bushfire plans have failed.
- They may protect you and your family from direct flame and radiant heat, but they do not guarantee safety.
How to prepare for a Catastrophic fire danger day
- Catastrophic fire danger signals the worst possible grass and bushfire conditions.
- Do not plan to stay and defend your home on Catastrophic fire danger days. Homes are not designed or constructed to withstand fire in these conditions – even the best prepared homes will not be safe. You could lose your life or be seriously injured.
- The safest place to be is away from high-risk areas such as campsites, parks and forests.
- If you’re in a bushfire risk area, plan to leave your home or accommodation early in the morning or the night before.
- Pack an overnight bag with essential supplies including provisions for pets and animals.
- Avoid unnecessary travel and check for road closures and detours.
- Check whether schools, childcare, transport and health services are impacted and adjust travel accordingly.
- Prepare for power outages.
- Check on and assist any vulnerable neighbours.
- If you are on mains water, turn off hoses and sprinklers if you evacuate your property.
Temperatures are expected to remaining dangerously high for consecutive days reaching 44 degrees in the Yarrawonga Mulwala area.
Strong and gusty winds, combined with very dry fuels, will increase the risk of fast-moving fires.
There is also the potential for thunderstorms, which may bring damaging winds and dry lightning, creating the risk of new fire starts.
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.
Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website, 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.
Stay informed
Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information, including:
•ABC local radio, commercial and designated Sky News radio stations
•The VicEmergency App
•The VicEmergency website
•The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
•CFA or VicEmergency social media channels
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