Victorian heatwave raises fire risk

A severe fire danger rating will be in effect in northwestern Victoria on the
weekend as a heatwave bringing temperatures of more than 35 degrees Celsius enters
its sixth day.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Country Fire
Authority (CFA) have warned that high and very high fire danger ratings will be in
place in other regions of Victoria.
Temperatures in the Mallee region are predicted to hit 41C on Saturday and Sunday
and 37C on Monday.
The CFA's state duty officer Alan Rankin says that with the unseasonably hot weather
predicted over the weekend, and no significant rain forecast, Victorians are warned
to maintain a high level of vigilance.
He said that both the DSE and CFA would be monitoring the current bushfires and
conditions very closely.
"We are ready for the fire season, and small fires are now occurring," Mr Rankin said.
"With restrictions already in place in areas across the state, now is the time for
the community to be vigilant.
"In the past few days a number of fires have started related to crop harvesting, so
farmers need to be especially careful."
DSE state duty officer Dennis Ward says there is still time for people to prepare.
"This week's weather has accelerated drying of the countryside, especially north of
the Divide, but we are nowhere near the conditions experienced last summer," Mr ward
said.
A fire at Cape Bridgewater, on the state's southwest coast, which burnt four to five
hectares overnight, has been contained.
And Point Nepean Park, on the Mornington Peninsula, will remain closed on Saturday
after a planned backburning operation on Monday jumped containment lines before
being controlled on Thursday.