Code red fire warning issued for first time in Victoria

[depakid]

total fire ban has been declared for the entire state of Victoria for tomorrow. Conditions are expected to be most dangerous in the Wimmera where Victoria’s first code red catastrophic day has been declared. The Country Fire Authority says all national state parks and forests in the district will be closed, in the interest of public safety.

The CFA says fire danger is considered extreme in the Mallee, North Central, Western and Central districts including Melbourne. The organisation is advising people in high risk areas across the state to activate their bushfire plans. Temperatures are expected to top 40 degrees across much of the state.

In the Wimmera region, holidaymaker and residents are being urged to leave as the area braces for the first catastrophic fire danger day in Victoria since Black Saturday. The warning came as a volunteer firefighter lost his life and four others were injured this morning when their truck rolled over on the way to do further blackouts after last week's Lake Mokoan fire.

While the Bureau of Meteorology will later today make the official announcement on fire danger ratings, fire authorities said it was important to get people moving out of danger zones as soon as possible. The Wimmera fire danger rating is currently at extreme and conditions are expected to worsen.

"This is about protecting lives and taking action,"Country Fire Authority chief officer Russell Rees said. "We want everyone to understand that you do not wait around for a fire and then get on the road. Being on the road during a fire is the most dangerous place to be." He said people in the Wimmera should activate their fire plans and those choosing to leave should leave as soon as today. "We're making this announcement and providing this information because we want the community to act now."

Rangers are today advising campers and other holidaymakers in state parks and forests in the Wimmera to leave the area and go to cool and safe places nearby, said Department of Sustainability and Environment chief fire officer Ewan Waller. Mr Waller warned all Victorians not to go bushwalking or travelling in the bush tomorrow and campers to extinguish their fires immediately.

More: http://www.theage.com.au/national/code-red-fire-warning-issued-for-first-time-20100110-m0f3.html