Australians in Victoria have been warned they should prepare for 'property loss or worse' as much of the country faces extreme heatwave conditions. Temperatures on Friday and Saturday are forecast to hit record highs for most states and territories, with Victoria and South Australia in particular bracing for dangerous fire conditions due to strong winds and hot temperatures. A total fire ban is in place in Victoria and all regions across the state were given a 'catastrophic' or 'extreme' fire danger rating.
'Victorians should brace themselves for more property loss or worse,' Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday. Temperatures in Melbourne are expected to hit 42C on Friday and while areas in north-west Victoria may reach 45C, a cool change is forecast in the south-west.
A bushfire near Longwood, central Victoria, has burnt through nearly 36,000 hectares, authorities said, with at least 20 homes in the small town of Ruffy destroyed. Ruffy CFA captain George Noye stated that the town had been 'severely' affected, describing the area as looking like 'a bomb's gone off,' with residents losing their homes and livelihoods. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities thus far.
Authorities have declared a total fire ban for the first time in six years in the Australian Capital Territory, indicating the widespread nature of the fire threat across the region. Fire officials caution that conditions remain extremely volatile and unpredictable, necessitating constant vigilance as the situation continues to evolve. Residents in nearby regions are also urged to remain alert, as the risk of new fires developing is significant.
'Victorians should brace themselves for more property loss or worse,' Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday. Temperatures in Melbourne are expected to hit 42C on Friday and while areas in north-west Victoria may reach 45C, a cool change is forecast in the south-west.
A bushfire near Longwood, central Victoria, has burnt through nearly 36,000 hectares, authorities said, with at least 20 homes in the small town of Ruffy destroyed. Ruffy CFA captain George Noye stated that the town had been 'severely' affected, describing the area as looking like 'a bomb's gone off,' with residents losing their homes and livelihoods. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities thus far.
Authorities have declared a total fire ban for the first time in six years in the Australian Capital Territory, indicating the widespread nature of the fire threat across the region. Fire officials caution that conditions remain extremely volatile and unpredictable, necessitating constant vigilance as the situation continues to evolve. Residents in nearby regions are also urged to remain alert, as the risk of new fires developing is significant.
