Code red fire ban issued for Victoria

Victoria has declared a code red catastrophic fire day for the first time ahead of a
summer scorcher.

The Wimmera district in western Victoria will be on the country's highest alert on
Monday, with temperatures set to hit 44 degrees and northerly winds of up to 45km/h
forecast.
A total fire ban will be in place across the entire state.
Extreme fire conditions are expected for much of the state, including Melbourne, in
the central district, where the mercury is expected to reach 43 degrees.
Already the temperature reached 44 degrees in the northwest of the state on Sunday.
And the heat isn't likely to end on Monday with code red fire days expected in the
north east and north central fire ban regions on Tuesday.
Fire chiefs took the unusual step of calling the code red alert for the Wimmera
ahead of the official declaration by the Bureau of Meteorology, so that people can
prepare.
"We're making this announcement and providing this information because we want the
community to act now," Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief fire officer Russell Rees
said.
"This is about protecting life and taking action."
Residents in the Wimmera have been urged to leave their homes either on Sunday night
or Monday morning at the latest and not risk being caught out on the road.
"It is vital now more than ever with this difficult weather that people listen to
the radio, keep themselves up to date with fire danger and keep themselves
informed," Mr Rees said.
National and state parks are being closed across the district and campers and
holidaymakers urged to get out.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) chief fire officer Ewan Waller
said tourists should "sit the day out" somewhere cool and safe.
"Across Victoria (on Monday) is not a place you want to be in the bush, that is
simple and clear," he said.
Park rangers were talking to campers, urging them to leave and extinguish any
campfires.
"We want them (campfires) dead, we want them cold, we want them out before (Monday),
we absolutely do not want fires (Monday)," Mr Waller said.
Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said the young and elderly were
particularly at risk in the heat and urged relatives and neighbours to keep an eye
on the vulnerable.
People should try to stay cool, keep hydrated and be safe in the water, he said,
referring to a spate of recent drownings and near drownings.
"We know that in these extreme weather events we will have deaths as a result of
this, so again it's about individuals taking care of themselves but also the
community and family and loved ones looking after those people who are at risk," Mr
Overland said.
A total fire ban has also been declared in Tasmania for Monday.