Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said that whilst no residential homes have been lost, many are on the fringes of the bushfires.
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00:00Good afternoon, welcome to the State Control Centre here on Boxing Day for 2024.
00:06Can I welcome also Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Vicky Ward, Minister for Emergency Services
00:12and Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery and I'm also joined by Alex from Expression
00:17Australia.
00:18Today's weather is making it extremely difficult for firefighters across the state.
00:24Every region except for East Gippsland has an extreme fire danger rating system and the
00:28entire state has the total fire ban in place.
00:34Today's temperatures in the north are expected to be between 38 degrees and 42 degrees so
00:39extremely hot conditions and in the south up to 40 degrees.
00:45We have strong gusty northerly winds at the moment and that's pushing some of the fire
00:50south of the Grampians and is also making it difficult for any new starts that occur
00:54across the state which we've had a number of already.
00:58This will be followed by a change in wind conditions that will move across to the southwest
01:02or more westerly and southwesterly which again make it really problematic for firefighters
01:07with any of those existing fires.
01:10We have four existing fires at the moment that we are really concerned about, that is
01:14the Grampians, the Gurdies near Lang Lang, Bullunguruk fire near Gisborne and also the
01:20Kreswick fire.
01:21So they have the potential in those winds to take off again which will be difficult
01:25for firefighters to hold.
01:28The Grampians fire has now burnt around 55,000 hectares.
01:33We know there's considerable environmental damage in the Grampians but also into some
01:38of the interface there with private lands where fence damages, we have stock losses.
01:44We also believe some outbuildings and sheds have been damaged from the fires.
01:49We have no reports as yet of residential homes but there are many residential homes
01:55in the bush areas on the edges of the Grampians.
01:59So I wouldn't be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses.
02:03But firefighters I can say are doing everything possible to protect life and protect property
02:09in what they're doing.
02:10We have three relief centres open at the moment, Ararat, Stawell and Hamilton.
02:16So they are there for residents that are displaced and that have left their homes.
02:23As I've said regularly, we have done all we can do to prepare for this current spike day
02:28and tomorrow.
02:29Tomorrow will also be challenging because those westerlies will continue through the
02:33afternoon, evening and into tomorrow.
02:36So there'll still be some tricky fire conditions.
02:40But can I thank the community?
02:42They have absolutely listened to the messages that we've been giving over the last few days.
02:46They are leaving their homes and they're leaving them early.
02:49They're going to stay with friends and family.
02:52Some of them are in relief centres but clearly the messaging back to us here at the State
02:56Control Centre is that the community is listening to the messages that we are providing.
03:01They are leaving and they are leaving early.
03:04There are multiple watch and act and advice messages on the Vic Emergency app at the moment.
03:09They continue to change as the fire conditions and the environment changes.
03:13So please download the Vic Emergency app if you don't have it already.
03:17Set up your watch zone if you haven't already.
03:20Continue to monitor the app but don't just rely on one source of information.
03:25Please stay tuned to your local broadcasters and know the environment around you.
03:29If you don't need to drive through those areas, please do not drive through the areas.
03:35Please avoid trouble where you absolutely can.
03:40In closing, I would just like to also thank our volunteers and our firefighters right
03:45across the state.
03:46They do an amazing job in protecting the community and doing everything they can to support community
03:52in their time of need.
03:53Our volunteers are well supported though as well by their families.
03:57So many volunteers were out on the firegrounds yesterday when their families are having Christmas
04:02together.
04:03They missed the Christmas because they are prioritising the community over their own
04:07time with their families.
04:08So thanks to them.
04:10Thanks to the family members that support them to go.
04:13And thanks to any employers that actually support them to volunteer as well.
04:19And finally, I would also like to thank our interstate colleagues that have come down
04:22to support our firefighting efforts here in Victoria.
04:26Many firefighters from across the country have come to support us in Victoria, in incident
04:31management teams and also on the ground.
04:34So thanks very much and I'll now hand across to Deputy Premier Ben Curran.
04:39Thank you, Rick.
04:42Can I also begin with a thank you?
04:45Thank you to all Victorians that have been heeding the warnings and following the advice.
04:50Thank you to our volunteers, our firefighters, our SES personnel.
04:54While we've been spending time with family, they have been spending time away from their
04:58families keeping each and every one of us safe.
05:01They do represent the best of us, but we are not through this at all.
05:06Dangerous fire conditions are forming today and will go right through to Saturday.
05:11The conditions formed today will push through to Saturday as well as tomorrow.
05:16We must continue to follow the advice.
05:19The current situation is that today's fire danger ratings are extreme across the whole
05:24state except for Gippsland, which is rated high.
05:27Total fire ban has been declared right across Victoria.
05:32The advice is very clear, don't light fires.
05:36Conditions are especially dangerous for people in areas where bushfires have already been
05:40burning.
05:41As we've repeatedly said, the fire we are most worried about is the fire we do not know
05:45of.
05:46We think of everyone at this time as they've had to leave their homes during the Christmas
05:51period.
05:52We know this is a challenging time for all communities and all communities will be supported
05:56through this period.
05:57We want to thank everyone that has been following the advice and will continue to follow the
06:01advice in coming days.
06:03Always be aware that new fires can start anywhere and become dangerous very quickly, especially
06:09when there are winds at 90 to 100 kilometres.
06:12It's more important for everyone to be aware of their surroundings, to download the emergency
06:16services app and make sure the notifications are switched on and you are getting the alerts.
06:22Please also tune in to the emergency services broadcaster.
06:25If you live, work or are holidaying in these areas, you must have an action and a bushfire
06:30survival plan in place.
06:32Leaving early is the only way to guarantee the safety of you, your loved ones and your
06:36family.
06:38We need people to take these warnings seriously.
06:41Deciding against the advice of our emergency services could just be the last decision you
06:46make.
06:47I do want to give an update on payments and support and I am joined here by the emergency
06:52services minister, Vicky Ward, who has been working very closely with her federal counterpart,
06:56Jenny McAllister, over the week.
06:59Today we can announce the Australian Victorian Government disaster assistance is now available
07:03for communities impacted by the fires.
07:06The assistance activated today will ensure communities can access essential supplies
07:10and accommodation in their time of need.
07:13We will continue to work hand in hand with the federal government to ensure all communities
07:17who are impacted can get back on their feet as soon as possible.
07:21A final reminder, I'd like to again thank every single Victorian who's been pitching
07:26in and supporting their communities, from emergency workers to charities, volunteers
07:30and community members who have turned out to lend a hand for people in a time of need.
07:34A final reminder to all Victorians, please, please follow the instructions given to you
07:39through VicEmergency on the roadside or emergency services workers, wherever they are.
07:44The single biggest way we can thank them for their service is staying up to date with the
07:48advice and following the advice.
07:51Download the app, make sure notifications are switched on, have your fire plan ready.
07:56By heeding the warnings, you're helping to make sure everyone's job is that little bit
07:59easier during what is a very challenging time right across our state.