Extreme bushfire conditions hit Victoria
Residents in Victoria’s Otways region have been issued evacuation orders, with the state set to swelter in temperatures above 40C as authorities warn of extreme bushfire danger.
What we know:
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Six fires were burning across the state on Monday afternoon, and authorities were concerned that Tuesday’s heatwave conditions and forecast northerly winds could cause the fire in the Otways to spread as far as Lorne (The Guardian).
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Residents from more than 1000 properties near the out-of-control Carlisle River fire were ordered to evacuate before sundown on Monday (ABC).
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“We strongly recommend people in affected areas to enact their bushfire plan,” said Colac deputy incident controller Alistair Drayton. “There is a real risk that this fire tomorrow will break its containment lines” (ABC).
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Melbourne is forecast to hit 45C, with parts of the state’s north-west tipped to reach a record 49C under the worst heatwave conditions since Black Saturday (SMH).
- A total fire ban has been declared for the whole state of Victoria (CFA).
