Dry grass, strong wind and thunderstorms create the perfect mix for fires in Gippsland (again)

Extreme fire danger weather is once again bearing down on Victoria.

What happened: A total fire ban has been declared over much of the state, including West and South Gippsland. 

• A combination of high temperatures, strong winds and potential thunderstorms have created dangerous fire conditions.

Flame off: A total fire ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight on February 17.

Hot and dangerous

🗣️ Emergency Management Commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, said in a press conference on Monday afternoon: “The concerns will very much be for the western parts of the state, in particular, down into western south Gippsland, where we still have a lot of grassland fire load in our landscape.”

• “The whole state is still a tinderbox in terms of the fuel types that are there,” Wiebusch said.

Temperatures in Bairnsdale are expected to reach 36 later today.

Thunderstorms: The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is also predicting thunderstorms across large areas of Victoria, including from Mount Baw Baw to Traralgon, which have the potential to spark fires.

• The BoM’s Morgan Pumpa told the West Vic Brolga: “It’s going to be a hot day, it’s going to be a windy day.”

“We have the change coming through, which is bringing the chance of some storms as well.”

Waiting on the wet: Rainfall has also been below average for most of Australia's south-east, far west and central regions in January, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

• This has left abundant dry fuel loads despite major blazes around the state already this fire season, according to Wiebusch.

Stay safe: Wiebusch urged Victorians to download the Vic Emergency app if they haven’t already and to set the watch zone to the area where users are living, working or holidaying during this period of time.

Stay up to date with the latest information by listening to your local ABC radio station and utilising the Vic Emergency app.