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| Schools and national parks close as Victoria faces worst bushfire conditions since black summer | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast across Victoria with a catastrophic fire danger declared for parts of the state | Hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast across Victoria with a catastrophic fire danger declared for parts of the state |
| Schools and national parks have been ordered to close as parts of Victoria face the first catastrophic fire conditions since the black summer of 2019-20. | Schools and national parks have been ordered to close as parts of Victoria face the first catastrophic fire conditions since the black summer of 2019-20. |
| Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia were also on alert for extreme fire danger amid heatwave conditions. | Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia were also on alert for extreme fire danger amid heatwave conditions. |
| Hot, dry and windy conditions were forecast across Victoria on Tuesday, with the possibility of thunderstorms, dry lightning and winds of up to 100 kilometres an hour. | Hot, dry and windy conditions were forecast across Victoria on Tuesday, with the possibility of thunderstorms, dry lightning and winds of up to 100 kilometres an hour. |
| The hot northerly winds were already moving across the state on Tuesday morning, the Country Fire Authority’s chief officer, Jason Heffernan, told ABC TV. | The hot northerly winds were already moving across the state on Tuesday morning, the Country Fire Authority’s chief officer, Jason Heffernan, told ABC TV. |
| He said hot conditions set in early, with the mercury reaching 29C in Mildura and 27C in Melbourne at 6am. | He said hot conditions set in early, with the mercury reaching 29C in Mildura and 27C in Melbourne at 6am. |
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| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup |
| A catastrophic fire danger rating had been declared for the Wimmera region, with authorities closely watching conditions in Rainbow, Warracknabeal, Minyip, Rupanyup and Murtoa. | A catastrophic fire danger rating had been declared for the Wimmera region, with authorities closely watching conditions in Rainbow, Warracknabeal, Minyip, Rupanyup and Murtoa. |
| “Those communities are of particular concern for firefighters today as conditions will be very, very nasty, ” Heffernan said. | “Those communities are of particular concern for firefighters today as conditions will be very, very nasty, ” Heffernan said. |
| Extreme fire danger is forecast for the Mallee, a high danger rating for rest of the state except for East Gippsland and a total fire ban in much of the state. | Extreme fire danger is forecast for the Mallee, a high danger rating for rest of the state except for East Gippsland and a total fire ban in much of the state. |
| Heffernan said it would be some of the most dangerous grassfire conditions since 2019-20. | Heffernan said it would be some of the most dangerous grassfire conditions since 2019-20. |
| The black summer was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia. | The black summer was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia. |
| “Grass fires can be just as deadly as bushfires during the 2019-20 season, they move incredibly fast and can jump roads,” he said. | “Grass fires can be just as deadly as bushfires during the 2019-20 season, they move incredibly fast and can jump roads,” he said. |
| The emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugent, said Tuesday’s weather forecast, with some areas predicted to reach 40C, would be challenging. | The emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugent, said Tuesday’s weather forecast, with some areas predicted to reach 40C, would be challenging. |
| “We’re going to have an extremely hot, dry and windy day … followed by thunderstorms and lightning,” Nugent said on Monday. | “We’re going to have an extremely hot, dry and windy day … followed by thunderstorms and lightning,” Nugent said on Monday. |
| “We are doing everything possible to make sure we are well prepared to respond to any fires that may occur anywhere in the state.” | “We are doing everything possible to make sure we are well prepared to respond to any fires that may occur anywhere in the state.” |
| Tasmanians were also being urged to prepare for an increased fire danger over the coming days. | Tasmanians were also being urged to prepare for an increased fire danger over the coming days. |
| The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) deputy chief officer, Matt Lowe, said current weather conditions combined with a dry landscape meant fires could spread easily and become difficult to control. | The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) deputy chief officer, Matt Lowe, said current weather conditions combined with a dry landscape meant fires could spread easily and become difficult to control. |
| “TFS are putting a temporary hold on issuing fire permits in the south and north of the state until 2am Thursday,” he said on Monday. | “TFS are putting a temporary hold on issuing fire permits in the south and north of the state until 2am Thursday,” he said on Monday. |
| “While we are not declaring a total fire ban, we are asking people to think carefully before lighting campfires and using machinery, and if doing so please be extremely cautious.” | “While we are not declaring a total fire ban, we are asking people to think carefully before lighting campfires and using machinery, and if doing so please be extremely cautious.” |
| South Australians were also bracing for a hot and dry Tuesday. | South Australians were also bracing for a hot and dry Tuesday. |
| Total fire bans had been declared, with extreme fire danger ratings for mid north, Riverland and Murraylands. | Total fire bans had been declared, with extreme fire danger ratings for mid north, Riverland and Murraylands. |
| The South Australian Country Fire Service said “very hazardous” fire weather conditions were predicted. | The South Australian Country Fire Service said “very hazardous” fire weather conditions were predicted. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology had also issued a heatwave warning for parts of Victoria, with conditions expected to ease with a cooler change from late Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning. | The Bureau of Meteorology had also issued a heatwave warning for parts of Victoria, with conditions expected to ease with a cooler change from late Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning. |
| A severe heatwave warning was also in place for parts of Western Australia including Kimberley, Gascoyne, Central West and Great Southern districts. | A severe heatwave warning was also in place for parts of Western Australia including Kimberley, Gascoyne, Central West and Great Southern districts. |