Severe Wildfire Risk in Australia, Maximum Alert Issued

A severe wildfire risk has emerged in Eastern and South-Eastern Australia due to an intense heatwave. On Thursday, news agency AFP reported that temperatures in some areas may exceed 40°C. Local authorities have instructed residents to remain on maximum alert.

Jason Heffernan, Chief Officer of the Victoria Country Fire Authority, stated that if a fire starts, it could spread rapidly and become uncontrollable. Warning local residents, he said that every decision could become a matter of life or death. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch also cautioned that dry and hot winds could make the wildfires even more ferocious.

Victoria's Premier, Ben Carroll, has ordered preparations for resident evacuations following the forecasts. Meanwhile, fire crews in various parts of Victoria and New South Wales are already working to contain active blazes. There are concerns that several properties in the Longwood area, 150 km north of Melbourne, may be destroyed.

Government meteorologist Sarah Scully noted that the extreme heatwave is spreading across the country, and dry thunderstorms are increasing the risk of new fire ignitions. In South Australia last week, hundreds of baby bats died due to the extreme heat. The current situation is a grim reminder of the 2019–2020 'Black Summer', as rising average temperatures continue to play a major role in extreme weather events.