00:00Conditions are likely to worsen tomorrow for our fire conditions across the state.
00:05We will see catastrophic fire danger ratings being forecast for the south-west, for the
00:11Wimmera, for northern country and northern central weather districts within our state.
00:18The south-west district has been added this morning in addition to the Wimmera, the northern
00:24country and the northern central that were notified and advised last night.
00:31That's because we're going to see very hot, windy and also the risk of dry lightning across
00:36our state tomorrow.
00:38We know that catastrophic fire danger ratings mean that it will be unpredictable, uncontrollable
00:45and fast-moving fires that we will see tomorrow.
00:48And that's why we're advising all Victorians that if you live in one of those catastrophic
00:54fire danger rating areas, noting that the rest of the state will also have extreme fire danger
01:00ratings across the state, we're asking all Victorians if you live in a fire-prone area,
01:05especially those that have got bushland around them, you should be leaving early.
01:11And in fact, if you're in those catastrophic fire danger areas where there are no fires
01:14at the moment, you should be leaving by 7am Friday the 9th of January.
01:21The rest of our state will see extreme fire danger ratings and that in the main part will
01:26also mean that those fires are unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast-moving.
01:32The last time that we saw catastrophic fire danger ratings in Victoria across multiple districts
01:37was on the 21st of November 2019.
01:41And we know the devastating impacts that we saw in the east of our state during those
01:462019-20 fires.
01:48So we are talking about a very significant day for Victoria tomorrow.
01:53However we still have fire conditions here in Victoria today.
01:57So we need Victorians to be alert both today and tomorrow for the extreme to catastrophic
02:02fire danger ratings that are being forecast.
02:05Tomorrow we will see unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast-moving fires right across our state.
02:12And we'll also have the impacts of damaging winds.
02:15So there is the risk of fallen trees on roads, other debris.
02:21So make sure that you are thinking about alternate routes as you travel around Victoria tomorrow,
02:27because we also have that risk of storm.
02:30Register Find Reunite is our system to capture people when you relocate from an area, to allow
02:36us to know that you have left, but also connect you with loved ones if they are trying to understand
02:42where you are.
02:43Register Find Reunite is now activated both for the Longwood and the Walwa Mount Lawson fires,
02:49but will also be activated for those areas that are in catastrophic fire danger ratings
02:54tomorrow being the South West, the Wimera, Northern Country and Northern Central Weather Districts.
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