Total fire ban for Northern Country on Thursday

By Georgia Tacey

Feb 21, 2024

Hot weather set for Thursday: A total fire ban will be in place for February 22. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

A total fire ban has been declared for the Northern Country on Thursday, February 22.

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Thursday’s conditions across Victoria will be hot and windy, with extreme fire conditions and temperatures reaching 40°C or higher in some parts of the state.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the total fire ban had been declared due to the expected conditions across the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West and Central districts on Thursday.

“We’re expecting hot, dry and fresh northerly winds ahead of a gusty south-westerly change. This could bring wind gusts of 60-80km/h,” he said.

“It will also trigger isolated showers and thunderstorms occurring around the change in the mid-to-late afternoon.

"Tomorrow’s conditions will make it difficult for firefighters to suppress new fires that may occur but will also be challenging conditions for those fire grounds generated from last week’s catastrophic fire day.

“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the total fire ban declaration.”

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 ban.

Victorians can find out if it is a total fire ban day on the CFA website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au