Total fire ban as authorities brace for Victorian Boxing Day blazes

A Total Fire Ban has been declared across the entire state of Victoria on Boxing Day, as hot, dry and windy conditions threaten natural landscapes.

A total fire ban has been declared across all of Victoria on Boxing Day, as hot, dry and windy conditions threaten the state.

Authorities are bracing for extreme fire danger throughout Victoria, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-40s on Boxing Day.

Strong winds of 70-80 km/h and gusts up to 100 km/h are also expected, ahead of a late westerly wind change moving into Friday morning.

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Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said emergency authorities were concerned about existing out-of-control fires being fuelled by the conditions, as well as controlling new fires that may start on Boxing Day.

"Thursday's conditions will make it difficult for firefighters to suppress a fire should one start," Heffernan said.

Stay informed at the VicEmergency website or download the app from the App Store or Google Play

"The fire at the Grampians National Park hasn't been contained and is likely to spread further under the forecast conditions on 26 December."

All fire districts in Victoria aside from East Gippsland have an extreme fire danger rating forecast for Boxing Day.

East Gippsland's fire danger rating has been set as high for Thursday.

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A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12:01am on Boxing Day to 11:59pm that night.

For more information on what you can and can't do during a Total Fire Ban, visit the Can I or Can't I page on the CFA website.

Authorities recommend Victorians have access to more than one source of information during high fire-risk periods.

They include:

• ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News
• The VicEmergency App
• The VicEmergency website
• The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226

"We want people to continue to enjoy the holiday period but fire safety is a joint responsibility and the community need to remain alert and in tune with current fire danger ratings and warnings via the VicEmergency website or app and your emergency broadcasters," Heffernan said.

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"Follow the strict conditions associated with the total fire ban declaration and understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies."

It comes as residents and business owners of Halls Gap, a small village in the Grampians National Park in Victoria's west, were allowed to briefly return to their homes today to collect personal items after fleeing from out-of-control bushfires.

The fire in Grampians National Park has now grown to more than 43,000 hectares and 100 interstate personnel are being deployed to assist with the response.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has warned Boxing Day will be "problematic" and Victorians must be prepared for fires that have not yet started.

"The advice is very clear, this is the beginning of what will be a long, hot and dangerous bushfire season," Carroll said.

"The fire that we do not know about, is the fire that we're worried about.

"Boxing Day is going to be a big day for our state.

"We've had fires already burning across Victoria and we're heading into even more extreme conditions on Boxing Day."

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Temperatures in the low- to mid-40s are expected across most of the state on Thursday with hot, northerly winds.

"The fuel is very dry, the bush is dry... it is ready to burn," Heffernan warned.

"It will be a very challenging day. "

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Grampians Fire

Halls Gap residents who had evacuated were allowed to return to their homes between 10am and 12pm today to collect personal belongings and ensure their properties were secured.

A community meeting was also held today Tuesday December 24 at 11am local time at Moyston Hall.

The meeting was livestreamed on the Ararat Rural City Council Facebook page and shared to the Vic Emergency Facebook page.

Areas that have been deemed unsafe to return include Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, and Halls Gap.

A Watch and Act warning remains in place for Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Barton, Mafeking, Watgania, Bellellen, Black Range, Great Western, Jallukar, Lake Fyans, Londonderry, Moyston, Rhymney, Willaura North.

VicEmergency said "favourable weather conditions and light rain over the fire area" yesterday had slowed the spread of fire, but the situation can change at any time.

The Grampians National Park, about 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, remains closed to the public.

The following relief centres are open:

• Alexandra Oval Community Centre, 1 Waratah Ave, Ararat.
• Grampians Community Health, known as "The Shacc", 22 Patrick Street Stawell.

Surrounding areas including Fyans Creek, Lake Lonsdale, Ledcourt, Mokepilly, Mount Dryden, Wartook, Zumsteins, Bornes Hill, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Grampians, Jimmy Creek, Karabeal, Mirranatwa, Strathmore, Victoria Point, Victoria Valley, Kia Ora, Willaura are currently not under threat but have been urged to stay informed.

Bullengarook Fire

Residents living in the town of Bullengarook, 14 kilometres west of Gisborne, are warned to monitor conditions for another blaze.

The fire started near Coffeys Road and is burning within the Wombat State Forest.

Crews have been able to contain the fire but warn extreme conditions on Thursday may increase the risk and residents should be prepared to leave early before conditions become too dangerous.

Coffeys Road, Carrolls Lane and Waterloo Flat Road are closed.

Other fires with potential to grow on Boxing Day include blazes at Boollarra South, The Gurdies, Crewwick and Casterton-Edenhope Road.

Melbourne is forecast to have a high of 40 on Boxing Day, while Halls Gap is expecting 39, Mildura 43 and Horsham 42.

It's estimated the region is losing about $2 million every day due to the ongoing crisis.

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