General News
4 February, 2025
Soaring temperatures, dry lightning heighten fire challenge across region
Fires remain a serious concern particularly in the state's west.
A heatwave through southern Australia has created challenging conditions for fire crews trying to battle out of control blazes through western Victoria.
Fires in national parks including the Little Desert and the Grampians / Gariwerd in the state's west and the Otways in the state's south-west remain out of control, while there were a string of other blazes as a result of dry lightning, including one in the Sunraysia that has destroyed two houses.
A series of thunderstorms on Sunday evening was a mixed blessing.
In some areas there were significant falls of in excess of 50mm which have lowered fire risk significantly, but in others there was little rain and a number of lightning strikes that caused further fires.
Areas to record the heaviest falls included the Moorabool Valley between Ballarat and Geelong, with Blackwood receiving 70mm, the Macedon Ranges, with Yandoit having 60mm and an isolated pocket near the Little Desert between Goroke and Natimuk where there were unofficial reports of over 50mm, although much less was recorded nearer the fire.
Temperatures soared on Sunday, with 43 recorded at Horsham, Hopetoun and Mildura and 42 at Nhill, making it difficult to control fires ignited a week ago by dry lightning.
Slightly more benign conditions today, combined with the moisture from last night's rain, have aided fire fighting efforts, however the potential for further lightning strikes tonight remains a concern.
The Little Desert fire and the Grampians fire, which is burning on two main fronts in isolated territory on the western side of the range, remain dynamic situations, with each change of the wind throwing up a shift in fire behaviour.
Fiona Cameron, Koonik and Hamilton Run Dohnes, Nurcoung, on the southern edges of the Little Desert, said there been concerns in her area with the wind in the north.
"We had the initial fires flare up last week then it was relatively calm in this area when the wind was primarily in the south, pushing the fire back into the Desert itself.
"On Sunday night it became a concern again but then the wind swung around more to the north-east, which pushed the direct threat to our neighbours towards the west."
She said the series of fires had done significant damage to the local community.
"People are talking about it just being out in the desert and the majority of it has been, but there has been an impact on private property as well."
There have been reports of houses and sheds being burnt in the fires although it has not been confirmed if the houses were still permanently inhabited.
Ms Cameron said back burning efforts in her local area done when the conditions permitted had aided considerably as had the contribution of fire fighters from across the state and aerial water bombing.
"We've had volunteers from all over giving a hand and people in the Wimmera are very grateful for their help, both here and in the Grampians and the aerial bombing has made a huge difference."
Tuesday is expected to be hot to start before a weak cool change, with conditions hovering in the low to mid 30s for the rest of the week through the Wimmera and cooler in the Otways.