Southern Australian states face dangerous conditions. Intense heat, strong winds, and high bushfire risk are present. Victoria has received urgent warnings. Property destruction and possible deaths are risks. Fire danger ratings are at catastrophic levels. National fire authorities have strict fire bans. They are giving important advice to manage fires.
These extreme weather conditions are from a long heatwave. Temperatures will be very high. Melbourne expects 42 degrees Celsius. Northwestern Victoria could reach 45 degrees Celsius. This heat and strong winds create ideal conditions for fires. Fires can start quickly and spread far. Therefore, Victoria has a total fire ban. No open fires are allowed. People must be very careful.
All areas in Victoria have a "catastrophic" or "extreme" fire danger rating. This is for Friday and Saturday. It means fires will be very hard to control. They will be unpredictable and dangerous. The situation is already serious. A large bushfire near Longwood has burned 36,000 hectares. It caused much destruction.
The small town of Ruffy in Victoria has been hit hard. At least 20 homes are destroyed. The local school also burned down. George Noye from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said the main street looked like an explosion. He was sad about the school. Fires also destroyed shearing sheds and hurt livestock. This shows the big economic and personal damage.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan warned Victorians. He said they must "brace themselves for more property loss or worse." This warning shows the serious predictions. Emergency services face a big challenge. Extreme heat, dry plants, and strong winds are a tough problem. Authorities and the public must act quickly. People in danger zones should have fire survival plans. Evacuation orders may happen. The next few days will be a test of strength.