Victoria on high bushfire alert amid extreme heat and strong winds

Australian Community Media

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said that whilst no residential homes have been lost, many are on the fringes of the bushfires.

Transcript

00:00Good afternoon, welcome to the State Control Centre here on Boxing Day for 2024.

00:06Can I welcome also Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Vicky Ward, Minister for Emergency Services

00:12and Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery and I'm also joined by Alex from Expression

00:17Australia.

00:18Today's weather is making it extremely difficult for firefighters across the state.

00:24Every region except for East Gippsland has an extreme fire danger rating system and the

00:28entire state has the total fire ban in place.

00:34Today's temperatures in the north are expected to be between 38 degrees and 42 degrees so

00:39extremely hot conditions and in the south up to 40 degrees.

00:45We have strong gusty northerly winds at the moment and that's pushing some of the fire

00:50south of the Grampians and is also making it difficult for any new starts that occur

00:54across the state which we've had a number of already.

00:58This will be followed by a change in wind conditions that will move across to the southwest

01:02or more westerly and southwesterly which again make it really problematic for firefighters

01:07with any of those existing fires.

01:10We have four existing fires at the moment that we are really concerned about, that is

01:14the Grampians, the Gurdies near Lang Lang, Bullunguruk fire near Gisborne and also the

01:20Kreswick fire.

01:21So they have the potential in those winds to take off again which will be difficult

01:25for firefighters to hold.

01:28The Grampians fire has now burnt around 55,000 hectares.

01:33We know there's considerable environmental damage in the Grampians but also into some

01:38of the interface there with private lands where fence damages, we have stock losses.

01:44We also believe some outbuildings and sheds have been damaged from the fires.

01:49We have no reports as yet of residential homes but there are many residential homes

01:55in the bush areas on the edges of the Grampians.

01:59So I wouldn't be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses.

02:03But firefighters I can say are doing everything possible to protect life and protect property

02:09in what they're doing.

02:10We have three relief centres open at the moment, Ararat, Stawell and Hamilton.

02:16So they are there for residents that are displaced and that have left their homes.

02:23As I've said regularly, we have done all we can do to prepare for this current spike day

02:28and tomorrow.

02:29Tomorrow will also be challenging because those westerlies will continue through the

02:33afternoon, evening and into tomorrow.

02:36So there'll still be some tricky fire conditions.

02:40But can I thank the community?

02:42They have absolutely listened to the messages that we've been giving over the last few days.

02:46They are leaving their homes and they're leaving them early.

02:49They're going to stay with friends and family.

02:52Some of them are in relief centres but clearly the messaging back to us here at the State

02:56Control Centre is that the community is listening to the messages that we are providing.

03:01They are leaving and they are leaving early.

03:04There are multiple watch and act and advice messages on the Vic Emergency app at the moment.

03:09They continue to change as the fire conditions and the environment changes.

03:13So please download the Vic Emergency app if you don't have it already.

03:17Set up your watch zone if you haven't already.

03:20Continue to monitor the app but don't just rely on one source of information.

03:25Please stay tuned to your local broadcasters and know the environment around you.

03:29If you don't need to drive through those areas, please do not drive through the areas.

03:35Please avoid trouble where you absolutely can.

03:40In closing, I would just like to also thank our volunteers and our firefighters right

03:45across the state.

03:46They do an amazing job in protecting the community and doing everything they can to support community

03:52in their time of need.

03:53Our volunteers are well supported though as well by their families.

03:57So many volunteers were out on the firegrounds yesterday when their families are having Christmas

04:02together.

04:03They missed the Christmas because they are prioritising the community over their own

04:07time with their families.

04:08So thanks to them.

04:10Thanks to the family members that support them to go.

04:13And thanks to any employers that actually support them to volunteer as well.

04:19And finally, I would also like to thank our interstate colleagues that have come down

04:22to support our firefighting efforts here in Victoria.

04:26Many firefighters from across the country have come to support us in Victoria, in incident

04:31management teams and also on the ground.

04:34So thanks very much and I'll now hand across to Deputy Premier Ben Curran.

04:39Thank you, Rick.

04:42Can I also begin with a thank you?

04:45Thank you to all Victorians that have been heeding the warnings and following the advice.

04:50Thank you to our volunteers, our firefighters, our SES personnel.

04:54While we've been spending time with family, they have been spending time away from their

04:58families keeping each and every one of us safe.

05:01They do represent the best of us, but we are not through this at all.

05:06Dangerous fire conditions are forming today and will go right through to Saturday.

05:11The conditions formed today will push through to Saturday as well as tomorrow.

05:16We must continue to follow the advice.

05:19The current situation is that today's fire danger ratings are extreme across the whole

05:24state except for Gippsland, which is rated high.

05:27Total fire ban has been declared right across Victoria.

05:32The advice is very clear, don't light fires.

05:36Conditions are especially dangerous for people in areas where bushfires have already been

05:40burning.

05:41As we've repeatedly said, the fire we are most worried about is the fire we do not know

05:45of.

05:46We think of everyone at this time as they've had to leave their homes during the Christmas

05:51period.

05:52We know this is a challenging time for all communities and all communities will be supported

05:56through this period.

05:57We want to thank everyone that has been following the advice and will continue to follow the

06:01advice in coming days.

06:03Always be aware that new fires can start anywhere and become dangerous very quickly, especially

06:09when there are winds at 90 to 100 kilometres.

06:12It's more important for everyone to be aware of their surroundings, to download the emergency

06:16services app and make sure the notifications are switched on and you are getting the alerts.

06:22Please also tune in to the emergency services broadcaster.

06:25If you live, work or are holidaying in these areas, you must have an action and a bushfire

06:30survival plan in place.

06:32Leaving early is the only way to guarantee the safety of you, your loved ones and your

06:36family.

06:38We need people to take these warnings seriously.

06:41Deciding against the advice of our emergency services could just be the last decision you

06:46make.

06:47I do want to give an update on payments and support and I am joined here by the emergency

06:52services minister, Vicky Ward, who has been working very closely with her federal counterpart,

06:56Jenny McAllister, over the week.

06:59Today we can announce the Australian Victorian Government disaster assistance is now available

07:03for communities impacted by the fires.

07:06The assistance activated today will ensure communities can access essential supplies

07:10and accommodation in their time of need.

07:13We will continue to work hand in hand with the federal government to ensure all communities

07:17who are impacted can get back on their feet as soon as possible.

07:21A final reminder, I'd like to again thank every single Victorian who's been pitching

07:26in and supporting their communities, from emergency workers to charities, volunteers

07:30and community members who have turned out to lend a hand for people in a time of need.

07:34A final reminder to all Victorians, please, please follow the instructions given to you

07:39through VicEmergency on the roadside or emergency services workers, wherever they are.

07:44The single biggest way we can thank them for their service is staying up to date with the

07:48advice and following the advice.

07:51Download the app, make sure notifications are switched on, have your fire plan ready.

07:56By heeding the warnings, you're helping to make sure everyone's job is that little bit

07:59easier during what is a very challenging time right across our state.

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