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Emergency services in Victoria are urging people to be careful as another day of extreme fire danger approaches on Tuesday.
The mercury will reach the mid-30s across the state tomorrow, with wind speeds as high as 40 mph and a risk of thunderstorms in the central and western parts of the state.
A total fire ban has been declared for the Central (including Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat), North Central, South West, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera fire districts; This means that from 12.01am to 11.59pm on 17 February, outdoor fires cannot be lit or allowed to remain open.
Extreme fire danger is expected in each of these areas, as well as in north-east Victoria.
“If fires start, they will be unpredictable, uncontrollable, and difficult for our firefighters in the field,” Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said in an update Monday afternoon.
The predicted dangerous weather follows a devastating January when fires burned more than 350,000 hectares in Victoria and killed an elderly man.
Wiebusch also had a nice update on this.
“Friday saw the two major fires we have had for over a month in Walwa-Mount Lawson, as well as the fire in Longwood, being brought under control and transferred back to local crews,” he said. “Rescue efforts for both fires are continuing in full force.”
Wiebusch said he hoped the Otways fire, which flared in late January and started weeks ago, would be under control next week.
