Firefighters in Victoria are battling dangerous bushfire conditions as temperatures exceed 40°C in parts of the state, including Melbourne.
A total fire ban has been implemented for several regions, including Mallee, Wimmera, South-West, North-Central, and Central, which covers Melbourne.
The fire danger rating for these areas is categorized as extreme.
On Monday, strong northerly winds pushed temperatures in Melbourne past 40°C, with Point Cook reaching 42°C, Avalon also recording 42°C, and Mildura and Swan Hill in the state’s north-west hitting 43°C.
A "watch and act" alert was issued for Little Desert, near the South Australian border, shortly before 2 p.m. Authorities warned residents in the area to leave immediately as out-of-control fires spread in the Little Desert National Park, just south of Nhill.
The alert was later expanded to cover Kinimakatka and Winiam East. A "leave-now" alert was issued for Minimay and Peronne, south of the Little Desert fire, and later extended to include Goroke.
At 3:45 p.m., an out-of-control grass fire near Rokewood prompted a "watch and act" alert, warning residents of Barunah Park, Corindhap, Rokewood, Shelford, and Warrambine to leave immediately.
This alert was later updated to cover only Warrambine and Shelford.
Photo: Nine News
State Control Centre spokesman Luke Heagerty confirmed that much of Victoria was experiencing hot, dry, and windy conditions, with dry lightning affecting areas such as Little Desert National Park.
He advised tourists and campers in the park to evacuate, as the fire was spreading quickly. Emergency services were attempting to slow the fire's spread, but the combination of dry conditions and strong winds raised concerns about its potential to reach private land.
Meteorologist Dean Narramore warned that the hot, dry, and windy conditions made any significant fires "uncontrollable and uncontainable."
Isolated thunderstorms in Melbourne had raised concerns about dry lightning sparking new fires, especially in the western districts.
By 4:15 p.m., AusNet reported that approximately 5,300 customers were without power.
Heagerty described Monday as a "reverse Boxing Day," with holidaymakers returning home after the long weekend, making road safety a key concern.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasted a cool change to hit Melbourne around 6 p.m., with temperatures dropping by 10 to 15 degrees in 15 to 20 minutes.
However, strong winds were expected to accompany the change, with gusts potentially reaching 80 km/h in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs.
Elsewhere, a four-wheel-drive vehicle became bogged on Elwood Beach at dawn, with the driver confidently assuring reporters he could free the car. A bulldozer later assisted in towing the vehicle away.
Overnight, metropolitan firefighters responded to a blaze that destroyed a house in Lady Nelson Way, Taylors Lakes, around 3 a.m. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) reported that a structural collapse initially hindered crews from entering the building, but the fire was declared under control by 3:43 a.m.
Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone was inside, though signs suggest the house may have been abandoned.
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