CFA Media Contact: 5330 3124
DSE Media Contact: 9412 4777
Joint Media statement
From the State Control Centre
Friday 8 January 2010
FIRE AGENCIES WARN OF WEATHER
CONDITIONS AHEAD
Victoria’s fire agencies are warning of hot dry weather with increasing fire danger over the weekend and
peaking early next week.
Emergency services are preparing for extreme conditions in central and western Victoria on Monday with
further extreme conditions forecast for the North-East district on Tuesday.
“CFA, MFB and DSE firefighters are on standby and Incident Control Centres are ready across the
State” said John Haynes, State Control Centre spokesperson.
Fire Danger Ratings are forecast to be Extreme in the Wimmera, Mallee, Western and North Central
districts for Monday and Severe in others.
“Extreme is a very serious Fire Danger Rating and communities in these districts need to be alert” said
Mr Haynes.
“Monday and Tuesday are looking like very difficult days in a number of districts. Extreme conditions are
forecast at this stage and we will continue to provide updates over the weekend.”
“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.”
Severe fire danger ratings are forecast for the North Central 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 and prepare to change your
travel plans. Avoid any non-essential travel. People on holidays or away from home should closely
monitor the weather and fire conditions in the areas they are visiting.
It is not safe for people to be in parks and forests if the fire danger is extreme. Visitors already in these
areas are advised the safest option is to leave early in the day.
The fire agencies have already had problems with campfires and are reminding people that there is no
room for complacency.
Victorians should monitor the weather and conditions with updated bushfire information available from
the DSE and CFA websites, the Victorian Bushfire Information Line, the ABC and commercial radio
stations as well as SKY News TV.
NEWS 
