UPDATE: The Yarra Ranges region is facing an imminent threat as emergency services issue urgent fire warnings for January 9, 2024. Officials predict this Friday may become one of the most dangerous fire weather days since the devastating Black Summer of 2019/20.
Temperatures are expected to soar to 42 degrees Celsius in Healesville, Yarra Glen, and Lilydale, and 40 degrees across the Dandenong Ranges. The fire danger rating is forecasted to reach catastrophic levels in multiple areas, including the Wimmera, Northern Country, and North Central districts, according to State Control Centre spokesman David Nugent.
“If a fire starts and takes hold, lives and homes are likely to be lost,” Nugent warned, highlighting the critical nature of the situation. The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that a combination of hot air, high winds, and dry thunderstorms will significantly increase the risk of ignition on Friday.
Ground crews, led by Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman, are ramping up preparations for aggressive initial responses to any potential fires. “If we can’t catch those fires when they’re small – and I mean really small, one tree burning through lightning – then those fires are going to get big and have dreadful impacts on the community,” Hardman stated.
Local fire brigades, including Hillcrest and Montrose CFA, are actively communicating with their communities via social media, urging residents to adhere to fire plans and take warnings seriously. Hillcrest CFA emphasized, “We want to speak plainly about what is forecast for Friday, because this is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous fire weather days since Black Summer.”
The forecast includes conditions that could transition a small fire into a fast-moving threat. A late south-westerly wind change may rapidly expand existing fires, placing new areas at risk with little warning. Montrose CFA warns that an extreme rating could see any fire that starts “move quickly, be very difficult to stop, and be extremely dangerous.”
Current fire incidents include two emergency warnings for a blaze in Longwood, with residents advised to evacuate immediately. Another significant bushfire is burning over 1,000 hectares at Mount Lawson, straddling the Victoria-NSW border. Firefighters from various brigades, including Sassafras-Ferny Creek and Dandenong Ranges Group, are on high alert and ready to respond.
Residents are urged to seek refuge in shopping centers, pools, libraries, and other indoor facilities in urban areas if evacuation is necessary. “When authorities say leave early, they mean before a fire starts, not when smoke is visible or sirens are sounding,” Hillcrest CFA stressed.
Both brigades conveyed that this is not a call for panic but a necessary measure for safety. “It’s about recognizing the dangers in the forecast, learning from past fire seasons, and making informed decisions early,” they stated.
As the situation develops, authorities are closely monitoring conditions and will provide updates as necessary. Residents are urged to prepare now and discuss plans with family and neighbors to ensure everyone is ready for potential emergencies. Stay informed and vigilant as this critical fire weather day approaches.
