Lives and homes under threat as heatwave takes hold
Authorities are preparing for wildfires that could threaten lives and homes as parts of Australia face catastrophic fire conditions.
The most intense heatwave forecast to hit Australia in six years will also affect southeastern Australia.
South Australians will continue to endure scorching temperatures that could top 40C in parts of the state on Thursday, following a sweltering 40C temperature.
Much of the state is facing severe heatwave conditions and there is a complete fire ban in the north-central region.
After the Mercury reaches the mid-40s in Victoria’s inland and northern parts and 40C in Melbourne, there will be a slight relief in the state’s southern parts on Thursday, but no such luck in northern areas.
A bushfire continues to burn more than 1,000 hectares at Mount Lawson on the Victoria and NSW border, while two wildfires are burning further south along the Hume Highway at Longwood and near Ruffy.
A total fire ban is in place for the Mallee, North Central, North East and North Country regions on Thursday.
State Control Center spokesman David Nugent said Victoria faced fire danger at the upper end of extremes on Friday, with parts of the Wimmera, Northern Country and North Central predicted to reach catastrophic levels.
“The most dangerous set of conditions for us from a firefighting perspective is the catastrophic fire danger rating,” he said.
“If a fire starts and grows, lives and homes are likely to be lost.”
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Bri Macpherson said Friday was a significant fire danger day because the drying of vegetation due to lingering warm air combined with winds and dry thunderstorms increased the risk of ignition.
Bushfire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said ground crews were preparing for aggressive initial attacks to extinguish the fires before they were brought under control.
“If we don’t catch these fires while they’re small — I mean really small, when a tree gets burned by lightning — then these fires will grow and have terrible impacts on society,” he said.
The heat is also expected to hit the ACT and NSW from Thursday into the weekend, with the national capital expected to peak at 38C on Thursday and Friday.
Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said temperatures were also rising in some parts of NSW, reaching highs of 30C to low 40C as severe and extreme heatwaves hit the south-east, east and midlands of the state.
But even before Sydneysiders feel the brunt of Saturday’s 42-degree peak, people with asthma or other respiratory conditions are being warned to avoid outdoor exercise as the heatwave is expected to cause poor air quality in southwestern and northwestern parts of the city.
Ozone, which can worsen lung and health problems, generally forms in warm weather, peaking in the mid to late afternoon and easing as temperatures drop, according to the NSW Department of Environment.
Last year was Australia’s fourth hottest year on record, and 2024 was the country’s second hottest.
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