Victoria Braces for Record Heatwave and Escalating Bushfire Threat
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Victoria is facing a dangerous confluence of extreme weather events, with Melbourne forecast to reach a scorching 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday as northern parts of the state brace for a week of temperatures exceeding 40 degrees and heightened bushfire risk. Simultaneously, residents near an out-of-control bushfire in the Otways region are being urged to evacuate immediately, as emergency services prepare for a challenging week.
Otways Bushfire: Urgent Evacuation Orders
Authorities are urging anyone remaining near the Carlisle River fire, located south of Colac in the Otways, to leave before sunset. Police and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have begun door-to-door warnings across more than 1,000 properties, but officials emphasize that residents should not wait for authorities to reach them. “The message is to leave today,” a spokesperson for Forest Fire Management Victoria stated. Evacuation centers have been established in Colac and Grovedale, Geelong, to accommodate those displaced by the blaze. All visitor sites within the Great Otway National Park and state forests are closed until further notice.
The Otways fire, which began on January 7, breached containment lines during Saturday’s extreme fire danger conditions, sending smoke billowing over Melbourne on Sunday morning.
Record-Breaking Heatwave Grips Northern Victoria
The escalating fire danger is compounded by a severe heatwave forecast for northern Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts temperatures could reach a record-breaking 49 degrees Celsius in Ouyen on Tuesday. Forecasters Diana Eddie noted that Hopetoun and Walpeup are also expected to reach 48 degrees Celsius, potentially setting all-time records for those locations.
“We’re expecting 45 degrees the maximum for Melbourne tomorrow,” said bureau forecaster Simon Timcke. A milder southwesterly change is expected to reach western and central districts in the afternoon, but is not anticipated to arrive in Melbourne until late evening. The change may also bring dust and smoke back into the Melbourne area.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch warned that parts of northern Victoria could experience seven consecutive days above 40 degrees. “We haven’t seen heatwave conditions like this in Victoria for almost 20 years,” Wiebusch said, drawing a comparison to the conditions preceding the devastating Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, when Melbourne reached 46.4 degrees Celsius.
Widespread Fire Danger and Ongoing Concerns
A statewide total fire ban is in effect for Tuesday, with extreme and severe fire danger ratings declared across Victoria. Residents in Lorne and Wye River, recently impacted by flash flooding, are being advised to closely monitor fire conditions.
Beyond the immediate Otways blaze, Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman highlighted concerns about the Walwa fire in the High Country, near the New South Wales border. The Walwa fire has already grown to over 100,000 hectares and is expected to pose a challenge to firefighters for weeks to come. “As early as later [on Sunday], or certainly [on Monday], we could see that fire escape its containment lines and move to the south,” Hardman cautioned.
More than 1,000 structures have been damaged by bushfires across Victoria this summer, including 289 homes. While the Longwood fire, which devastated parts of central Victoria earlier this month, is now contained, officials emphasize that the fire season is still in its early stages.
Public Safety and Infrastructure Preparedness
Authorities are urging residents to take precautions against the heat, including staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity during peak temperatures, and checking on vulnerable family members and neighbors. Ambulance Victoria reported responding to 11 cases of children locked in cars on Saturday, reiterating the deadly risk of leaving children unattended in hot vehicles. “Hot cars can kill,” warned Dale Armstrong, emergency management director for Ambulance Victoria.
Powercor, the electricity distributor for Melbourne and western Victoria, is deploying extra crews and resources to ensure power supply during the heatwave. A spokesperson stated that planned work has been reviewed and will be canceled or modified to maintain power in affected areas. Customers are encouraged to charge devices, have a battery-powered radio available, and prepare backup plans for essential medical equipment.
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