Australian Firefighters brace for Wildfire horror day
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Australian Firefighters brace for Wildfire horror day*
By Jamie Duncan
January 10, 2008 08:46pm
Article from: AAP
EXTREME heat and high winds are set to further test Victoria's
firefighters tomorrow.
A total fire ban has been declared across the state from midnight tonight.
Temperatures are tipped to hit 40 degrees for the second day running in
many centres, with the Bureau of Meteorology today issuing a severe
weather warning for northerly winds of 60 to 70km/h ahead of a cool
south-westerly change in the afternoon.
Today, a major fire burned out of control in rugged country at
Morrisons, a tiny community between Geelong and Ballarat.
More than 250 firefighters battled the blaze, which by this evening had
burned more than 450 hectares of bush.
Country Fire Authority chief fire officer Russell Rees said with winds
tipped to freshen tonight and a minimum temperature of 30 degrees
predicted for Melbourne, the fire was a major threat.
"All our efforts are dealing with it that fire to try and keep it
contained and hold on to it through the night and into tomorrow, which
... is going to be quite hot and windy and with a wind change, which is
classic dangerous fire weather for Victoria," Mr Rees told the Nine Network.
"The bureau is telling us the wind is going to get up about midnight and
start blowing quite hard, and for some places in Victoria the wind will
be really strong (by morning).
"It's going to be a very tough day right from the beginning tomorrow
with this south-westerly change pushing through, getting into Melbourne
about mid-afternoon or something like that."
A relief centre has been set up at the Elaine Hall for those who have
left their homes as the fire approaches.
Elaine residents have been warned to expect smoke and ember attacks.
Residents of nearby Ballark could be threatened as the wind changes
tomorrow. They have been warned to activate their bushfire plans and
keep watch.