General News
22 December, 2024
Over 100 interstate firefighters to bolster Grampians' bushfire response
Interstate crews join fight as region faces critical conditions.
With extreme fire conditions forecast for Boxing Day, interstate firefighting teams are giving the Grampians National Park bushfire effort a crucial boost.
More than 100 firefighting personnel from NSW, the ACT, Queensland, and Tasmania will join the effort to combat the ongoing bushfires.
The reinforcements include two teams to manage incidents and four task forces specialising in firefighting.
State Response Controller David Nugent welcomed the interstate resources as a timely boost for Victorian firefighters.
"Victoria is thrilled to be receiving help from our interstate colleagues during our time of need," he said.
"The fires burning in the Grampians National Park, Bullengarook and The Gurdies are still not yet under control.
"These extra resources will be critical for the upcoming spike days."
The region received 0.22mm of rain overnight, which Mr Nugent said had "minimal impact on our current going fires".
Grampians fire grows overnight
The Grampians bushfire expanded to nearly 41,000 hectares overnight, moving north toward Halls Gap.
The national park remains closed, with crews conducting back-burning operations to protect nearby towns and establish firebreaks.
Mr Nugent warned while conditions are expected to stabilise temporarily, dangerous weather is forecast for late Thursday into Friday.
"Whilst we have more settled conditions in the coming days, hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to impact the state ahead of a westerly wind change late on Thursday into Friday morning," he said.
"We remind all Victorians to continue to stay informed of conditions and to make sure they have a fire survival plan for the days ahead."
Emergency services brace for extreme fire day
It is predicted that December 26 will be an extreme fire danger period day, with the potential escalation to catastrophic in the Wimmera.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it is important ahead of what is expected to be a hot Christmas period that people plan ahead.
"We can't get a fire truck into every driveway so we are asking Victorians to know their fire risk, plan ahead and make sure we are doing our part to keep each other safe," he said.
"The Bureau of Meteorology's four day weather forecast currently predicts a catastrophic fire day on December 26 for the Wimmera and as we get closer to Thursday these forecasts will become more certain.
"We may see a reduction in the level of rating, but what is certain it will remain an extreme fire day."