TOTAL FIRE BAN for Mallee, Wimmera, North Central, South West and Central (Melbourne) today

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the Mallee, Wimmera, North Central, South West and Central regions today, Saturday, February 22, 2025.

A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12:01am to 11.59pm today, Saturday, February 22.

Today’s hot, dry, and windy conditions will elevate fire danger across the state for the majority of the day and overnight, with temperatures reaching the low 40s in the northwest and the mid-30s elsewhere.

The damaging northerly winds will reach an average of 30km/hr in the west and central parts, with gusts of up to 100km/hr.

A westerly south-westerly wind change is expected to enter the far west unusually late around 5pm, before stalling overnight and pushing through Melbourne late Sunday morning.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared due to the expected forecast that could present challenging fire behaviour over the next two days.

“Tomorrow’s conditions in several parts of the state will make it difficult for firefighters to suppress a fire should one start,” Jason said.

“We are also seeing the potential for dry thunderstorms in the northwest later in the day that could result in dry lightning strikes hitting the ground and ultimately causing new ignitions and concerns for firefighters.

“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the TFB declaration, stay well informed with warnings through the VicEmergency app and understand how the increased fire risk will impact you, ensuring your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”

Chainsaws, tractors, lawnmowers, slashers or any implement that could potentially create a spark should only be used if absolutely necessary.

Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.

For more information on what you can and can’t do visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website. 

Victorians should ensure they have access to more than one source of information.

They include: 

• ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News (keep a transistor radio handy with spare batteries);
• The VicEmergency App (but don’t rely on it);
• The VicEmergency website www.emergency.vic.gov.au (but don’t rely on it);
• The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 (but don’t rely on being able to get through);
• CFA or VicEmergency Twitter or Facebook (but don’t rely on it).