Millions of residents and travelers across multiple states are being warned to remain vigilant as the risk of bushfires intensifies over Christmas week.
Several states, including New South Wales, began battling dangerous fires or warning of possible outbreaks on Monday, with hot, dry and windy weather expected to pose extreme fire danger to Sydney.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines said temperatures were expected to reach 29C in Sydney on Monday but dry, warm winds from inland were increasing fire danger.
The Hunter and other areas of northern New South Wales are also facing extreme conditions and total fire bans. A watch and action alert was issued due to an out-of-control grass fire on Snowgums Drive in Goulburn in the Southern Highlands on Monday afternoon, but firefighters quickly gained the upper hand and the warning level was lowered to advisory level.
Western Australia’s western and northern regions are also facing heatwave conditions on Monday.
Perth is expected to have a maximum temperature of 41C, while Midland, 15 kilometers from the CBD, is expected to have a high of 44C. Temperatures further north could reach 46 degrees Celsius, with warm and windy conditions increasing fire danger, Hines said.
Authorities in Victoria and South Australia are preparing for catastrophic and extreme conditions on Boxing Day. Hines described the day as a “peak day” with “dramatic increases” in temperatures and fire danger due to changing weather patterns.
On Sunday, Victoria Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Gary Cook urged anyone traveling on Boxing Day to download the VicEmergency app before setting off.
Massive bushfires broke out in western Victoria over the weekend, with the state’s towns and tourism providers already on edge. The Grampians National Park fires had burned more than 41,000 hectares, or more than 20% of the park, by Monday morning and forced the evacuation of several towns before moving northeast on Sunday night, triggering evacuation warnings for small villages east of the park. .
The situation remained out of control on Sunday, although more than 300 firefighters fought to contain the situation and secure the containment line before it worsened again later in the week.
The surrounding suburbs of Barton, Mafeking and Watganiya remained under alert on Monday. Victoria’s Bushfire Management Agency said milder weather on Sunday night reduced fire activity, but the situation could change at any time.
“You must monitor the situation and be prepared to take action,” it said. “Hotter and windier weather is expected on Christmas and Boxing Day. Plan accordingly.
On Sunday, communities in the Halls Gap area were told it was unsafe to return if they had already left.
Danger levels are expected to reach catastrophic levels in the Wimmera and extreme in most other areas, including Melbourne, with temperatures expected to reach 39C on Boxing Day.
“Firefighters are currently conducting backfire operations to protect nearby towns and establish fire breaks ahead of Boxing Day,” Cook said.
Authorities said it could take weeks to fully contain fires caused by lightning strikes. Incident controller Aaron Kennedy said the fire broke out on very steep, difficult and dry terrain.
“Our ability to directly attack this fire is quite challenging,” he said.
Kennedy said two consecutive years of drought in western Victoria, particularly in the Grampians National Park, meant fires were spreading rapidly.
Similar threat conditions are expected in regional South Australia on Thursday.
Meanwhile, firefighters were battling a blaze threatening lives and property in Perth’s northern suburbs on Sunday.
The fast-moving Two Rocks fire forced an evacuation warning Sunday afternoon but was later brought under control.
The region is expected to face high fire danger again on Monday, while inland areas of Western Australia’s central west and south-west are expected to face extreme risks.