FIREFIGHTERS are prepared to hit fires hard at the weekend to prevent them gaining ground before severe weather conditions reach central Victoria on Monday.
Saturday and Sunday are forecast to reach 36 and 39 degrees, while fire weather is expected to peak on Monday at 41 degrees, with gusty winds and the chance of dry thunderstorms.
Bendigo region firefighters have urged the community to remain vigilant to prevent fires taking hold before Monday.
Country Fire Authority District 02 duty officer John Breaks said Monday was going to be a "significant" day for fire weather.
He firefighters would be monitoring conditions and outbreaks of fire over the weekend as normal, to make sure enough firefighting resources were going to fires.
Mr Breaks said during the summer the CFA escalated its response to fires, to prevent them getting too big.
He said firefighters would be at an elevated level of response over the weekend to avoid fires burning in the landscape on Monday when the risky fire weather hit.
"We want to get in and hit fires hard and fast to prevent them from getting too big in the first place, and that includes our aerial firefighting capability," Mr Breaks said.
"Monday's going to be a significant fire weather day, so we'll have our incident control centres operating."
Mr Breaks urged community members to stay vigilant, remain up to date with information about current fires and delay any activities that might spark fire.
He urged people to put off lawn mowing, harvesting, slashing, welding or grinding, especially near dry grass.
Mr Breaks suggested community members regularly the VicEmergency app and have a fire plan in case of emergency.
Victoria's emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp warned all Victorians to stay vigilant about both fires and health, ahead of a heatwave forecast for the coming days.
OTHER NEWS:
The government has warned residents of the northern country and north central district of risks to health from heat on both Saturday and Sunday.
Fire danger will be very high in the both the northern country and north central districts - encompassing central Victoria - on Saturday and Sunday according to the CFA.
Conditions on Monday are set to be severe across both central Victorian districts.
Temperatures on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night are forecast to remain above 20 degrees.
Stay up to date at: emergency.vic.gov.au/
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
