Victoria to see extreme fire conditions on Friday as officials warn any bushfires that break out will be ‘uncontrollable’
The entirety of Victoria will likely see extreme fire behaviour conditions on Friday amid an ongoing heatwave, officials said, warning that any fires that do break out will likely be uncontrollable amid hot, dry, windy conditions.
Jason Heffernan, the chief officer of the Country Fire Authority, said total fire bans would continue for some areas across the state on Thursday, saying officials are preparing for the impacts of the heatwave in the coming days.
We are expecting the upper end of extreme across the entire state of Victoria for Friday. We will see yet again the continuation of those mid 40 degrees temperatures, and an even greater increasing of those very hot northerly winds
Fires under these conditions are uncontrollable. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will spread very quickly
Vicki Ward, the Victorian minister for emergency services, said conditions will be “incredibly challenging” over the next few days. Officials warned all Victorians to be prepared with an evacuation plan and for any unexpected power outages.
Key events
Cait Kelly
For Anchor Community Care, a homelessness service that works in the northeast of Melbourne, the issue is complex – many of the rough sleepers they have as clients live in bushland, making fire danger a main concern.
Leanne Nicholson, Anchor’s acting CEO, said:
We work closely with the local CFA and police to advise on the locations and needs of our local rough sleeper population.
Heat like this is a very serious threat to the lives of people sleeping rough.
AIHW data shows that the median age of death for rough sleepers in Australia is just 46. This is 36 years less than the rest of the population – almost half of their life lost as a result of experiencing homelessness.
This is due to the health impacts that come with an experience of homelessness. The threat is very real for our rough sleepers during extreme weather and their lives are at risk unless we do all we can to support them.
It’s crucial that a priority is placed on the health and safety of our most vulnerable people. Their experience of homelessness doesn’t make them less deserving of the dignity, safety and health afforded to the rest of Australia.
Cait Kelly
Homelessness services in Victoria go into overdrive during heatwave
Launch Housing says it is moving rough sleepers into emergency accommodation to keep them out of the heat in Victoria.
Janita Suter, the head of marketing and communications, said:
Our outreach workers are out keeping people hydrated, making sure they’re staying in shade, giving out drinks and cooling supplies. We are offering more emergency accommodation to keep people out of the heat.
The people most at risk are those with chronic medical conditions, socially isolated, and older Australians over 50. We are monitoring for the signs of heat exhaustion.
She said heatwaves were often the organisation’s busiest time, keeping not just clients but staff safe, while getting people off the streets.
Launch has existing relationships with hotels, which we know are suitable for different cohorts. And we are drawing upon existing funds for this because there are no additional funds.
Cait Kelly
Government urged to switch off mutual obligations in heatwaves
The Antipoverty Centre has written to key ministers requesting mutual obligations (MOs) are switched off in heatwaves.
Jobseekers are required to meet mutual obligation requirements – such as attending meetings with an employment provider – to receive their payments. But when a natural disaster occurs, the government turns the system off for those in the impacted area.
In the letter, sent to the federal minister for employment and workplace relations, Amanda Rishworth, the centre’s research and policy adviser, Jay Coonan, called for MOs to be turned off. He wrote:
I understand that changes were requested of providers to change servicing arrangements to limit people attending activities in person, however from past experience we know that these requests from the department rarely trickle down to the street-level.
The only effective way to protect a person in these conditions is to give them the confidence to refuse any demands of their providers and to seek safety at home or in a third space that provides relief and any support a person may need.
Catie McLeod
Hi, I hope you’ve had a nice day so far. I’ll be with you on the blog until this evening.
Nick Visser
That’s all from me. Catie McLeod will be your guide. Take care.
Victoria to see extreme fire conditions on Friday as officials warn any bushfires that break out will be ‘uncontrollable’
The entirety of Victoria will likely see extreme fire behaviour conditions on Friday amid an ongoing heatwave, officials said, warning that any fires that do break out will likely be uncontrollable amid hot, dry, windy conditions.
Jason Heffernan, the chief officer of the Country Fire Authority, said total fire bans would continue for some areas across the state on Thursday, saying officials are preparing for the impacts of the heatwave in the coming days.
We are expecting the upper end of extreme across the entire state of Victoria for Friday. We will see yet again the continuation of those mid 40 degrees temperatures, and an even greater increasing of those very hot northerly winds
Fires under these conditions are uncontrollable. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will spread very quickly
Vicki Ward, the Victorian minister for emergency services, said conditions will be “incredibly challenging” over the next few days. Officials warned all Victorians to be prepared with an evacuation plan and for any unexpected power outages.
British man charged with displaying Nazi symbols asks to be voluntarily removed from country after visa cancelled
A British national facing deportation for alleged offences has caused a potential federal standoff after requesting removal from Australia, AAP reports.
Kayn Adam Charles Wells, 43, was arrested at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, in November following an Australian Federal Police national security investigation.
Wells was charged with displaying Nazi symbols and posting harmful content on the social media site X and granted bail. Federal police also allegedly found several weapons “including swords bearing swastika symbology, axes and knives” in Wells’ possession.
Home affairs minister, Tony Burke, cancelled Wells’ visa on 23 December and the Briton was taken into immigration detention, facing deportation. Wells signed a Department of Home Affairs form requesting voluntary removal on Tuesday, a day before he faced Caboolture magistrates court.
He cannot be prosecuted if he is removed from the country.
Eelemarni Close-Brown
NSW health system preparing for ‘searing temperatures’ over coming days
NSW health minister, Ryan Park, said today is about the state’s health system and emergency services getting prepared ahead of a forecast heatwave in Sydney and other parts of the state.
“We know that over the next few days we are going to see searing temperatures here in Sydney, western Sydney and other parts of New South Wales,” Park said.
Park also urged individuals to take steps to “try to reduce the burden on our services across New South Wales”.
He urged people to exercise in the cooler parts of the day, and not during the middle of the day or after lunch, as parts of Sydney will reach temperatures close to 44C.
Other advice included consuming water throughout the day to avoid dehydration, looking after vulnerable family members particularly older people and young children and not leaving young children in a car for any length of time. Park said:
It is absolutely critical that people understand over the next few days that car temperatures that are left stationary will soar in a matter of minutes and that can have catastrophic outcomes for young children.
Cait Kelly
Cool kits and $100 vouchers for drinks and food available to Melburnians in need amid heatwave
Chief heat officer at the City of Melbourne, Krista Milne, said the council had activated its cool hubs, which included the libraries, pools and community neighbourhood centres, to keep people safe.
She said:
We are making sure everyone has a cool place to go. So if they’re out on the streets, and they’re feeling hot, they can visit one of those places.
Community safety officers have also been going around the CBD, checking on those experiencing homelessness and handing out cool kits. The kits include water, Hydralite, towels people can wet and put over their necks and maps of cool places in the city.
They are also offering those who need it, $100 7-Eleven vouchers so they can buy cool drinks and feed themselves.
With the heatwave building through the next three days, that will be the community safety officers’ focus. They’re out there with those vouchers, engaging with people, making sure they have options and are safe. At this point, there haven’t been any issues reported.
She said the council also had a cool route map up online, so people could plan the coolest way to get form A to B, when they were out in the city. Residents in the City of Melbourne can also swim at the outdoor pools for $2 in January.
Lord Mayor, Nick Reece, also called for people to stay safe in the heat:
We want every Melburnian to take the heatwave seriously. If you need to cool down, head to one of our libraries, cool places or swimming pools – and our community safety officers have bottled water on hand for those who need it.
Cait Kelly
Melbourne libraries become designated cooling spots
Libraries across Melbourne have become designated cooling spots, extending their hours, making sure there is water and staff checking in on people sheltering from the heat. Cool spots with extended hours include those in Yarra, Port Philip and Maribyrnong.
Despite running air-con and free drinking water, both the St Kilda library and North Fitzroy were quiet leading up to lunch.
A regular at St Kilda said a few of the locals who are homeless had come in to take shelter from the heat, but it was not any busier than a normal Wednesday.
The streets in the inner suburbs are quiet, with hardly anyone out. Most businesses are keeping their doors closed to keep in the cool air.
Anthony Albanese attends funeral of Bondi victim Peter Meagher
The prime minister was in Sydney today to attend the funeral of former NSW police detective sergeant Peter Meagher, who was killed in the Bondi terror attack.
Albanese placed holy water on the coffin at St Mary’s Cathedral in the CBD. Meagher was working as a freelance photographer at the event on 14 December when he was killed.
His funeral is the last to take place after the mass shooting.
Petra Stock
Extreme heat can increase risk of power outages, but here’s how to prepare
Electricity network company Powercor said networks were designed to cope in the heat, however extreme conditions could increase the risk of outages.
It was closely monitoring the situation and ready to respond, asking customers to prepare in case of localised outages. A spokesperson said:
Victorians can act too by preparing for power outages as part of their emergency plan. They should charge phones and other devices, have a battery-powered radio available for real time news updates, and sign up for SMS notifications about power supplies at www.powercor.com.au/notify.
People that rely on life support equipment or need electrical items to care for others should have a back-up plan ready.
Another emergency warning in place in central Victoria over grassfire
There’s another emergency warning in place in central Victoria around the Moyreisk, Natte Yallock, Redbank and Stuart Mill areas due to a grassfire, with residents in the area urged to leave immediately. Details on that incident are below.
