Vic fire risk 'worse than Ash Wednesday'

Victoria faces a never-seen-before bushfire risk on Saturday, with conditions
expected to be worse than those that led to the deadly Ash Wednesday fires of 1983.

Authorities have warned the public not to travel to rural areas on Saturday when
temperatures in the mid-40s and high winds are expected to whip up the most extreme
fire conditions in history.
The Country Fire Authority's (CFA) chief officer said the weather forecast for
Saturday was more ominous than before the Ash Wednesday fires which swept across
southeastern Australia, killing 75 people and causing widespread damage.
"I think we are in a period of unprecedented weather," Russell Rees said.
"Weather that perhaps we have never had in the state of Victoria in respect of fire
danger.
"When we compare the weather that is forecast for this Saturday, as against some of
the classic fire days of this state's history, we note the weather predicted is in
fact worse.
"I make this plea to everybody in our community. We need to plan, to be ready, and
to put every ounce of our effort into staying safe."
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a temperature of 43 degrees celsius for
Melbourne on Saturday, just shy of the all-time highest temperature in February of
43.2C.
Mildura and Swan Hill in the state's north are forecast to have temperatures up to
46C on Saturday, with high winds also predicted.
"Basically, you have got very hot, north-to-northwesterly winds at strong to near
gale force across the state, and very dry conditions," said the bureau's Sarah
Scully.
Fire authorities did not pinpoint a region under particular threat, emphasising that
the entire state is in danger.
Senior members of the state's fire authorities and police on Thursday staged a rare
joint media conference to warn of the dangers.
Ewan Waller from the Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE) said
people should think carefully about travel plans on Saturday.
"The question they must ask themselves is, do I need to take this trip? If they are
travelling in rural Victoria they must ask themselves that question," Mr Waller
said.
"If you are going bush, then (ensure) you really know what you are doing, because
the bush on Saturday will potentially be a dangerous place to be."
Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) Chief Fire Officer Tony Murphy said people in urban
areas were not immune to wildfires.
"It is really, really critical that people who are living on the interface of the
urban area and bushland, start preparing now. I can't over-emphasise that particular
point," Mr Murphy said.
Superintendent Rod Collins from Victoria Police said people should avoid using power
tools and take care with cigarette butts.
In an apparent reference to firebugs, he urged people who see suspicious activities
to contact police.
"If you think twice whether you should ring the police, then do it and we can sort
it out from there. I think it is that crucial on Saturday," Supt Collins said.
A $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arsonists
responsible for last weekend's fires in Gippsland which destroyed 30 houses.
Meanwhile, on Thursday DSE firefighters had to battle a 12-hectare blaze at
Tonimbuk, after it broke containment lines.
The CFA reported all fires its officers had been battling were under control or
contained by late Thursday afternoon.
Parks Victoria chief executive Mark Stone urged people to stay away from parks and
bushland, and announced some parks in high risk areas would be closed.
"All Victorians thinking of visiting a park should reconsider their plans and stay
out of the bush and parklands this Saturday," he said in a statement.
"With extreme weather predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology this weekend including
extreme fire risk, gale force winds and temperatures in the mid-40s, a number of
parks in high risk areas will be closed in the interests of public safety."
The Parks Victoria information centre (13 1963) will have information on which parks
will close, Mr Stone said.