Total fire bans for Victoria, half of NSW

Central and North Central regions are in the midst of extreme fire danger, as blazes burn west and north of Melbourne, while Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North East, South West, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland are set to face severe fire danger.

Overnight, emergency warnings for Clarendon, Scotsburn and Elaine were downgraded after a fire broke out south of Ballarat on Saturday.

Firefighters were working through the night to control the blazes, which have claimed a number of buildings.

Fire weather warnings have been issued for Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Sunday’s fresh north to northwesterly winds, locally strong over southern and elevated areas, will direct hot and relatively dry conditions over much of Victoria today.

A cool west to southwest change will develop in the southwest this morning before extending to remaining areas during the afternoon and evening.

The danger is compounded by the declaration of a severe weather warning for half the state, with damaging winds predicted for North Central, North East, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland.

Damaging winds of up to 70km/h and peak gusts of up to 100km/h are expected in parts of the North Central and Central fire districts, where firefighters are already on firegrounds.

Alpine parts of the North East, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland districts are also expected to encounter sich winds.

The CFA advises that you:

Much of southern NSW is subject to a total fire ban on Sunday as temperatures soar and winds pick up.

NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) declared the ban would come into force at midnight on Saturday for eight of the state’s 21 fire zones due to forecast hot and windy conditions.

Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Far South Coast, Southern Ranges, Lower Central West Plains, Southern Slopes, Eastern Riverina, Southern Riverina and Northern Riverina are all covered by the ban.

All but one of those regions have a severe fire danger rating for Sunday. Southern Ranges is listed as very high.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a fire weather warning for those fire areas and the ACT, as hot, dry and windy conditions are expected ahead of an approaching cold front.

West to north-westerly winds are expected over most of the area, except along the coastal fringe where winds will be out of the north-east.

Under severe and very high fire conditions, the RFS advises:

During a total fire ban, no fires may be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended. Gas and electric barbecues may be used, provided certain conditions are met.