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Last Updated: Nov 2nd, 2009 - 17:32:57 |
Around 5,000 firefighters are on high alert with the winds due to hit western Victoria, before extending across the state and reaching Melbourne.
Victorian Bushfire Hotline: 1800 240 667
Country Fire Authority updates
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313 government schools, 255 child care providers and 25 independent schools closed
30 national parks closed
Text messages sent to 5 million mobile phones by every network
The weather bureau's Terry Ryan says wind gusts could top 100 kilometres per hour
"Those stronger winds will pick up in the Melbourne area about 6:00 am or 7:00 am, winds 60 to 80 kilometres per hour developing quite quickly, gusts possible to 100 [kph]," he said.
"The alpine area a little bit later, gusts to about 120 [kph] in the alpine area, those winds will turn west with a change entering the west of the state around midday to 1:00pm."
Hundreds of schools, 30 national parks and and Melbourne's Botanic Gardens will be closed.
It is feared the gusty conditions will result in four major fires jumping containment lines and spreading rapidly.
Waterbombing aircraft will be grounded if conditions are too windy, placing extra pressure on ground crews.
Challenging day
The Department of Sustainability and Environment's James Todd says it will not be as hot as Black Saturday, but it will still be dangerous
"It's possible that the wind gusts may be greater than what was experienced that day although the overall temperature will be milder than that day, the winds may be greater than what was experienced in some of those fire areas," he said.
"We've had more or less three weeks since that day with little or no rain. So we've still got very dry vegetation and some significant fire fronts essentially that are burning in difficult terrain."
Victoria's Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron says it will be a challenging day for firefighters.
"If other fires start, if they are unable to be quickly pounced upon, those fires will rapidly spread and obviously wind is the great enemy in that case," he said.
Text messages have been sent to 5 million mobile phones warning of the danger and people are urged to secure their properties and avoid travelling to fire prone regions.
People living in those areas are urged to enact their fire plans and if they are not staying, authorities say they should leave early this morning at the very latest.
Fire zones
Firefighters are continuing to battle four fires - in Bunyip State Park and Wilsons Promontory, and two in Kilmore East-Murrindindi.
Communities in the areas surrounding the fires have been told to activate their bushfire survival plans.
This includes residents in the Yarra Valley, including communities in the vicinity of Toolangi, Castella, Fernshaw, Healesville, Don Valley, Mount Toolebewong, Badger Creek, Woori Yallock, Seville, Wandin, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Yeringberg, Gruyere, Dixons Creek, Steels Creek and Chum Creek. No properties in the Yarra Valley are under threat at this time.
In the Warburton Valley, communities include the vicinity of Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Millgrove, Warburton, Warburton East, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo and Big Pats Creek. No properties in the Warburton Valley are under threat at this time.
The Kilmore East-Murrindindi fire may affect communities along the north-eastern side of this fire including: Jamieson to Woods Point areas, Howqua / Macs Cove and Goughs Bay. Residents in the Eildon to Mansfield area may experience smoke from backburning, while significant smoke and some flame may be visible from the Eildon, Goughs Bay, Jamieson and Mansfield areas. These communities are not presently under any direct threat.
The Bunyip Ridge fire is burning in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas between Gembrook, Powelltown, Neerim Junction and Tonimbuk and is estimated to be approximately 26,200 hectares in size. The fire is not currently posing a threat to communities.
Fire advice
Activate fire plans as soon as possible, do not leave it until Tuesday morning.
If leaving, tell the Red Cross so they can update their database.
If leaving, stay with friends or relatives, not in a tent.
Travel only if necessary.
Ring 000 only if life or property is at threat.
Ensure you have mobile phone coverage and your phone is charged.
Secure loose objects.
Be prepared for power outages: have a torch, batteries, radio, water, and power company phone number to report faults.
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