Heatwave and fires in Southern Australia

Victoria: Get out today, fire-zone residents told

CATASTROPHIC and extreme fire conditions across southern Australia have authorities on high alert for fast-moving blazes, with scorching overnight temperatures and gusty winds fuelling fears 2015 could begin with an uncontrollable firestorm

 

The AustralianVerified account‏@australian

Catastrophic and extreme fire conditions declared across southern Australia today. http://bit.ly/1tuYpyS 

the Australian,

2 January, 2015

CATASTROPHIC and extreme fire conditions across southern Australia have authorities on high alert for fast-moving blazes, with scorching overnight temperatures and gusty winds fuelling fears 2015 could begin with an uncontrollable firestorm.

South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges district — encompassing the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and many suburbs of Adelaide — has been rated as the worst possible fire risk today, along with the state’s lower southeast.

Residents have been warned that even well-prepared and ­defended homes may not be safe if fires start, and they should leave early today to ensure their safety.

A total fire ban has been ­declared for most of South Australia and throughout Victoria except East Gippsland.

South Australia Country Fire Service assistant chief officer Rob Sandford said the two states were co-ordinating their placement of aerial bombers, particularly in border regions. “With hot dry conditions predicted, we’re going to see increasing winds and we could see lightning across the state on Saturday,’’ he said.

Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said any fire could swiftly rage beyond control and a strong southwesterly wind change expected at about midday tomorrow could cause further problems.

“With the wind speeds we ­expect, a fire in grasslands would be fast-moving and extremely difficult to control,’’ he said. “We would expect to see fires taking control that would be large in size as well, so they would impact on multiple communities.”

Adelaide is forecast to hit 42C today, dipping to 27C overnight before reaching 38C tomorrow and 29C on ­Sunday.

In Melbourne, the mercury is set to reach 38C today and tomorrow, with temperatures rising above 40C in western and central Victoria. Overnight temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-20s, meaning fires could still pose a ­serious risk in the early hours of tomorrow.

Mr Lapsley said the “dry, hungry old goldmining country” of central Victoria would cause most concern because of empty dams and semi-drought conditions.

He said the cool change was ­expected to move across Victoria from late tomorrow morning, but wind changes were often linked with fire deaths as the sudden change of direction caught people unawares. He urged people to check more than one information source for updates.

Last week, lightning started about 350 fires across Victoria.

But Kalorama resident Patrick Harrington, who has lived in the Dandenong Ranges outside Melbourne for nearly 25 years, said he was reassured by recent clearing and hazard reduction burns around his mountain home. “It gives me a very comfortable feeling that it’s all been done,” he said.

Ahead of the heatwave, health authorities have warned people to stay indoors in airconditioning, drink plenty of water and ensure children are not left in parked cars.

Southwest NSW is also preparing for possible bushfires, with dangerous conditions in the Riverina. Rural Fire Service spokesman Ben Shepherd said the forecast for dry, hot and windy weather was particularly worrying given the number of tourists in the region at this time of year.