The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has declared this Saturday, March 17 a day of Total Fire Ban in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central (including the Melbourne Metropolitan area and Geelong).
This includes Kinglake, Kinglake Central, Kinglake West, Flowerdale, Toolangi, Flowerdale, Yea, Alexandra, Panton Hill, St Andrews, Eltham, Diamond Creek, Hurstbridge, Rubicon, Buxton and many other areas. (Click on the links for further information)
No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from (1201hrs AEDT) 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 17 2018 until (2359hrs AEDT) 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 17 2018.
Residents are urged to NOT RELY on the Victorian Government Emergency website (or this) website (due to possible power, internet, and mobile phone tower outages).
Tune your radio to your local emergency radio broadcaster or 774kHz AM ABC Melbourne.
Kinglake Ranges News will monitor CFA radio communications throughout the day to keep locals informed of any fires that may occur via social media, UHF (477MHz FM) and HF (27MHz AM/SSB) Citizen’s Band Radio on Channel 18.