Millions of Australians have been warned to prepare for a dangerous bushfire season this summer that could be similar to the devastating Black Summer fires of 2019 and 2020.
The major warning comes as firefighters continue to battle out-of-control flames in Victoria.
A rapidly growing fire in Victoria’s Grampians National Park burned through 30,000 hectares on Saturday afternoon despite the efforts of 350 firefighters to contain it.
And authorities have warned it could be just the beginning, as summer bushfire prospects for 2024 show much of Australia at increased fire risk.
The forecast, which was prepared by the National Fire and Emergency Services Council in November, has identified significant fire danger in four states.
These include the south coast and central west of WA and the lower and southeast coastal region of the lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
“Large areas of south-west and far west Victoria, parts of the north-east and the Mornington Peninsula in south-west Gippsland are at increased fire risk,” the forecast said.
North central and south central New South Wales were also placed on alert, while significant portions of the Northern Territory were considered at fire risk.
The major warning comes as firefighters continue to battle out-of-control flames in Victoria.
A rapidly growing fire in Victoria’s Grampians National Park burned through 30,000 hectares on Saturday afternoon despite the efforts of 350 firefighters to contain it.
The outlook, which was prepared by the National Fire and Emergency Services Council in November, has identified a significant danger to four states.
The huge fire in Victoria on Saturday has spread rapidly in the past 24 hours, after it burned through around 7,500 hectares of land on Friday morning.
Residents of several nearby towns, including Bellfield, Flat Rock, Fyans Creek and Halls Gap, were ordered to evacuate immediately on Saturday.
The Vic Emergency website has issued 16 different warnings ranging from Watch and Act to emergency warnings for dozens of areas across the state.
A Watch and Act alert has been issued for several areas, including Bullengarook and Lederberg in Melbourne’s northwest.
Watgania, Mafeking, Jimmy Creek, Barton, Jallukar and Londonderry also received Watch and Act alerts from Saturday night.
An emergency warning that was issued for Lake Fayans and Pomonal has since been downgraded to Watch and Act from 5.30pm on Saturday afternoon.
Fire Rescue Victoria deputy chief fire officer Mark Gunning said bushfires in the Grampians region could burn for weeks.
Jason Heffernan, director of the National Fire Authority (CFA), said a dry winter in Victoria has provided fertile ground for dangerous fire conditions as the climate continues to become warmer.
The summer bushfire outlook for 2024 has indicated much of Australia is at increased fire risk.
“Underlying winter dryness, the lowest on record, in some parts of Victoria has led to significant dieback and understorey vegetation,” Mr Heffernan said.
Heffernan urged residents to have a bushfire plan ready in case the risk of bushfires increases.
“On hot, dry, windy days, have a backup place to visit that is not in a high wildfire risk area,” he said.
“If you are staying in an area at risk of wildfire, the safest option is to leave the night before or early in the day on a catastrophic or extreme day.”
The bushfire outlook also pointed to the limited rainfall parts of south-west Victoria and parts of WA received this year.
The lack of moisture has contributed to substantial amounts of plant material drying out.
‘Southern Australia received below-average rainfall throughout the cold season and into spring. “As a result, soil moisture is below average across much of southern and eastern Australia,” the forecast said.
“Communities are encouraged to be vigilant and alert this summer, even in areas of Australia showing normal fire risk, as catastrophic fires can still occur during normal bushfire seasons.”
The warning comes five years after the devastating Black Summer bushfires wreaked havoc across Australia.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average temperatures over the coming days and nights across the country.
Northern and eastern parts of Australia are expected to reach high minimum temperatures.
Parts of northern and central Queensland will also experience above-average rainfall this week.
The bushfire outlook has also indicated that above-average rainfall is likely to be seen across South Australia and WA this summer.
The warning comes five years after the devastating Black Summer bushfires that wreaked havoc across Australia and left the world shocked by the evidence of destruction left behind as a result.
The disaster claimed the lives of 33 people across the country and forest fires devastated 19 million hectares of lives.
Around 3,000 homes were destroyed and tens of thousands of people were displaced.
The disaster also claimed the lives of native flora and fauna, with billions of animals estimated to have died, according to findings from Natural Research Hazards of Australia.