Australians in Victoria have been warned they should prepare for 'property loss or worse' as much of the country faces extreme heatwave conditions. Temperatures on Friday and Saturday are forecast to hit record highs for most states and territories, with Victoria and South Australia in particular bracing for dangerous fire conditions due to strong winds and hot temperatures. A total fire ban is in place in Victoria, and all regions across the state were given a 'catastrophic' or 'extreme' fire danger rating.
'Victorians should brace themselves for more property loss or worse,' Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday.
The conditions were extreme yesterday. They’re catastrophic today. Temperatures in Melbourne are expected to hit 42C on Friday, while areas in north-west Victoria may reach 45C. A bushfire near Longwood has burnt through nearly 36,000 hectares, with at least 20 homes destroyed.
Ruffy CFA captain George Noye described the devastation, saying, 'The main street looks like a bomb's gone off, we've lost a school, and some properties have lost everything.' However, no lives have been lost so far.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill mentioned that three people remain unaccounted for in the Longwood area, and while authorities are hopeful, they advise caution as conditions worsen. Across South Australia, authorities reported battling multiple small fires overnight as temperatures approach 46C in some regions. The CFA emphasizes that all Victorians, regardless of proximity to fire zones, must remain on high alert.
'Victorians should brace themselves for more property loss or worse,' Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday.
The conditions were extreme yesterday. They’re catastrophic today. Temperatures in Melbourne are expected to hit 42C on Friday, while areas in north-west Victoria may reach 45C. A bushfire near Longwood has burnt through nearly 36,000 hectares, with at least 20 homes destroyed.
Ruffy CFA captain George Noye described the devastation, saying, 'The main street looks like a bomb's gone off, we've lost a school, and some properties have lost everything.' However, no lives have been lost so far.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill mentioned that three people remain unaccounted for in the Longwood area, and while authorities are hopeful, they advise caution as conditions worsen. Across South Australia, authorities reported battling multiple small fires overnight as temperatures approach 46C in some regions. The CFA emphasizes that all Victorians, regardless of proximity to fire zones, must remain on high alert.
