Sunday, January 5, 2025, has been declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the Wimmera, South West, Central and North Central fire districts of Victoria.
No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 11:59pm on Sunday, January 5, 2025, until 12:01am on Monday, January 6, 2025.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared due to the expected conditions across the Mallee, Wimmera, Southwest, Central, and North Central districts.
“Tomorrow’s conditions will make it difficult for firefighters to suppress a fire should one start,” Hefferman said.
“Especially with fires in the landscape already we’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the Total Fire Ban declaration.
“Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”
“People travelling throughout the state during these summer holidays also need to remain alert and in tune with current fire danger ratings and warnings via the VicEmergency website or app and your emergency broadcasters, such as ABC Radio Radio Melbourne on 774kHz or your local ABC station.
Non-compliance with Total Fire Ban restrictions can result in heavy penalties, including fines or imprisonment.
“Fireworks and open-air fires, including campfires, are completely off-limits too.”
“Staying informed and acting early can make all the difference in a fire emergency. Tune into emergency broadcasts, visit emergency.vic.gov.au, and keep updated on the latest conditions in your area,” Heffernan said.
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 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.
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).
