VIC:Vic braces for New Year's Eve scorcher

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2010
VIC:Vic braces for New Year's Eve scorcher

By Greg Roberts

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 AAP - Victoria's fire season this year has so far encountered more
floods than flames but the state will be hit by a dose of scorching reality on New Year's
Eve.

Temperatures above 40 degrees and strong 45km/h winds are predicted all over the state
on Friday, with the Mallee and Wimmera regions in the west given extreme fire ratings.

Total fire bans have been declared in six of the state's nine regions, while the city
of Horsham has the highest fire danger forecast.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the heat would continue into Friday evening,
although a cooler change would arrive in the state's southwest late in the afternoon and
won't move into central Victoria and Melbourne until late in the evening.

It will also be windy, with speeds that "can push fires along".

"The bureau has indicated that the atmosphere itself will be unstable, which means
if a fire starts they are sometimes difficult to control, due to the fact that the upper
winds and the mixing of the winds can see a very erratic style fire behaviour," Mr Lapsley
told reporters on Thursday.

Firefighting services are worried that many Victorians are currently holidaying in
"unfamiliar surroundings" and urged them to have a fire plan.

"Know where you are, know the fire danger rating, make sure you prepare yourself, what
that means for you and what you should be doing as an individual and as a family member,"

Mr Lapsley said.

After substantial rainfall all year, forests remain moist, but potentially deadly grassfires
pose a serious threat because of the growth brought by the rain, especially in Victoria's
west and central areas.

Bushfire scientist and expert David Packham pointed out that 17 people died on the
highway between Melbourne and Geelong in 1969 during grassfires, which move more than
twice as fast as bushfires.

The rain had contributed to high grass growth that was now drying out, which were the
same conditions that led to the Lara fire on January 8, 1969, said Mr Packham, from Monash
University's school of geography and environmental science.

"Unfortunately people got out of their cars and tried to outrun the fire, but you will
probably survive a grassfire if you stay in your car," he told AAP.

Victoria enjoyed above-average rainfall and cold weather in December 2008, but extreme
heat after that led to the Black Saturday fires on February 7, 2009, when 173 people died.

Mr Lapsley said an enhanced emergency alert system was ready to warn people in affected
communities via landline and mobile telephones and local radio stations.

Police warned people not to use fireworks unless they had a permit from WorkSafe Victoria,
but said all official fireworks displays were expected to go ahead.

Cooler weather is forecast for New Year's Day on Saturday.

CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson said Victorian fire officers have responded to 660
fires caused by illegally used fireworks in the past five years.

AAP gr/pmu/apm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC WRAP (PIX AND VIDEO AVAILABLE)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.