THE Country Fire Authority is encouraging residents to keep alert with temperatures to rise above 40 degrees this week.
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CFA District 02 operations officer Ashley Baker said while recent rains were welcome, they didn’t take long to dry off.
“We’re still fairly green south of our district around Kyneton and the rain was a welcome break but it doesn’t take much to dry it up,” he said.
“Certainly over the next few days we have higher temperatures but the winds are hopefully more subdued.
“The higher temperatures are more relative to the humidity but it is strong winds that allow for worse conditions. Hopefully over the next two days we don’t get them.”
Temperatures in Bendigo are expected to top 40 degrees on Thursday and Friday while Swan Hill and Echuca are expected to hit 43 degrees.
Total fire bans will be in place on Thursday in the Wimmera and Mallee regions while the Northern Country region (including Bendigo) is at a severe fire-danger rating.
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“I don't want to give anyone bad luck but (the CFA) has been relatively quiet over the holiday period and hopefully that continues,” Mr Baker said.
“People should keep alert. It’s always a good idea to venture out on regular basis to get a feel on what conditions are doing. You can also keep informed through the Vic Emergency app.
“Hopefully we are looking at a change on Friday (evening) and some cooler weather for the weekend.”
Hopefully we are looking at a (cool) change on Friday.
- Ashley Baker, CFA
On Christmas Day, a fire that started in a Boort hay shed was lucky not to spread further.
Six CFA units from Boort, Kerang, Gannawarra and Yandoit responded to the fire at 9pm.
The fire was in a 60 metre by 20 metre shed that contained 200 hay bales.
“It took crews just under an hour to controlled the fire and it was maintained by crews overnight,” a CFA spokeswoman said.
“There were some small breakaways from the (main) fire. In different weather conditions it could have been worse.”
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
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