CFA Media Contact: 5330 3124
DSE Media Contact: 9412 4777
Joint Media statement
From the State Control Centre
Wednesday 20 January 2010
FIRE AGENCIES WARN OF DIFFICULT WEATHER
CONDITIONS AHEAD
Victoria’s fire agencies are warning of hot and dry weather with increasing fire danger over the coming
days in the northern parts of the state.
Emergency services are preparing for extreme conditions in the Mallee and Wimmera districts tomorrow
with further extreme conditions also forecast for the North-East district on Friday, ahead of a cool change
over the weekend.
“Tomorrow is looking like a very difficult day in the Wimmera and Mallee. Our CFA and DSE firefighters
are prepared and ready to go. But we need the community to be prepared as well,” said Dale Russell,
Operations Manager, CFA Horsham.
“Extreme is a very serious Fire Danger Rating and communities in these districts need to be alert.
People living in or visiting bushfire prone areas in these districts need to activate their fire plan now and
monitor the district Fire Danger Ratings and daily weather forecasts on the CFA website and in the
media,” Mr Russell said.
Severe fire danger ratings are forecast for the Western, North Central, Northern Country and North
Eastern districts tomorrow.
If you live in a high risk area and your plan is to leave, the safest option is to leave early in the day on a
day when the Fire Danger Rating is Severe or Extreme in your district. Only stay if your home is well
prepared and you can actively defend it.
“If you plan to travel in bushfire prone areas you should monitor the situation everyday,” said Geoff
Evans, Wimmera DSE District Manager.
“Prepare to change your travel plans, such as making arrangements to visit major regional cities instead
of parks or forests. People on holidays or away from home should closely monitor the weather and fire
conditions in the areas they are visiting.”
People are advised to avoid travelling in parks and forests unless absolutely necessary if the fire danger
is extreme. Visitors already in these areas are advised the safest option is to leave parks and forests
early in the day.
Victorians should monitor the weather and conditions with updated bushfire information available from
the DSE and CFA websites, the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (1800 240 667), the ABC and
commercial radio stations as well as SKY News TV.
NEWS 
