Fire bans in place for Victoria as temperatures soar one year after Black Summer fires

Fire bans have been put in place along swathes of Australia one year on from the horror Black Summer blazes.

Much of Victoria’s northwest has been placed under a total fire ban as the state braces for soaring temperatures beyond 41C and dry winds, as well as parts of South Australia and southern NSW.

The Country Fire Authority of Victoria says large parts of the state face a very high to extreme fire risk on Sunday with the biggest potential danger for the northwest.

But the risk of fires was far from the mind of many Melburnians on Sunday, who enjoyed scorching 34C temperatures – with beaches packed out. 

In NSW, the danger is also high in the Southern Riverina and Eastern Riverina areas. 

Fire bans have been put in place along swathes of Australia one year on from the horror Black Summer blazes (Pictured: A map of Australia on Sunday as heatwave-like conditions grip the nation)

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan says the conditions have made a total fire ban necessary for four districts until 11.59pm on Sunday.

‘The Mallee, Wimmera, North Central and Northern Country will experience elevated dangerous fire conditions and as a result, we have declared a Total Fire Ban across the four districts,’ Mr Heffernan said in a statement.

He said the ban imposed strict rules on the use of farm machinery, chainsaws and lawnmowers and he urged campers not to light campfires.

‘We would really urge people not to light one earlier in the night either or in other areas of Victoria,’ he said.

Two woman walk along St Kilda Beach during Melbourne’s first heatwave in months (pictured on Sunday) as temperatures hovered in the mid-30s

Mr Heffernan said campfires lit in recent days needed to be properly extinguished to avoid flare-ups.

Wind gusts are expected to top 100km/h in certain locations across central Victoria, including Mlebourne.   

‘This is the kind of wind that can blow away outdoor furniture or cause weaker tree limbs and things to come down,’ Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Callum Stuart said.

‘It’ll sort of be a few hours prior to a cold change coming through where the wind is a risk.’ 

Meteorologists are predicting dry lightning, which exacerbates the risk of fires when paired with the soaring temperatures

This time last year, swathes of Victoria were burning to the ground as Australia experienced the worst bushfires on record (pictured, firies in East Gippsland on January 4, 2019)

But he also said meteorologists predicted dry lightning, which exacerbated the risk of fires. 

‘Dry lightning is a risk up in those northwestern parts, where the fire danger is elevated tomorrow as well,’ he said.

Looking ahead, Mr Stuart said the week would start off quietly before showers and thunderstorm activity ramped up from Thursday into the weekend. 

Sydney, meanwhile, is experiencing the first spot of sunshine for the week, after rain dampened much of the Christmas festivities. 

Temperatures are expected to reach 34C on Sunday before soaring to 31C by Monday.

NSW copped a drenching in the lead up to Christmas, clearing temporarily on Sunday before more rain and storms are predicted to hit Sydney by Monday. 

In Queensland, residents are set to experience several days of drizzle and cooler-than-average temperatures, with Brisbane expected to peak at 23C on Tuesday. 

Perth residents can expect sunny and warm temperatures in the lead up to New Years Eve, with temperatures set to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday at 39C. 

People in Darwin are also set to sizzle, but the soaring 32C temperatures will feel slightly cooler with showers and storms forecast all week.