Officials are working urgently to establish a long-term base camp for hundreds of firefighters as more than half of Victoria faces high alert for extreme bushfire conditions.
The Wimmera region, in particular, is expected to experience catastrophic fire danger, while five of Victoria’s nine weather districts are predicted to face extreme fire danger.
Temperatures across the state are forecasted to reach the mid-30s to over 40°C, with Mildura in the northwest possibly exceeding 43°C. Winds could reach up to 40 km/h, exacerbating the fire risk.
Over 500 firefighters are currently battling the Bayindeen blaze near Ballarat, which has already burned over 20,800 hectares and destroyed six homes, along with various structures.
Catastrophic fire danger is forecasted for the Wimmera region, with extreme risk in five districts.The Victoria Park at Ballarat will house around 300 firefighters, with facilities including large marquees, laundry, bathroom, and kitchen amenities. This base camp will serve as a central hub for crews fighting fires west of Ballarat and is expected to be operational before Wednesday.
The City of Ballarat is collaborating with Forest Fire Management Victoria and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to establish the camp quickly due to worsening weather conditions.
CFA Chief Jason Heffernan emphasized the severity of the situation, with fire danger levels upgraded to catastrophic for the Wimmera region and extreme across several other districts including Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central, and Central.
Heffernan urged residents, particularly those near bushland or grassland, to prepare for Wednesday and avoid complacency.
The Bayindeen fire, burning under extreme conditions, has shown rapid spread and large spot fires. While 70% of the blaze is now contained, firefighting efforts are ongoing.
Warnings remain in effect for several areas, and the emergency services minister, Jaclyn Symes, noted the challenging terrain. Discussions between the Victorian and federal governments are underway regarding support for affected residents.