Christmas on hold for firefighters battling major blazes in Victoria

Fire crews are building containment lines around three major blazes burning across West Victoria due to extreme heat and gale-force winds.

The blazes in Victoria’s Grampians National Park have led to emergency evacuation warnings for several communities.

The Country Fire Authority has warned residents to avoid travel on Boxing Day, with warnings of dry bushland, gusty winds and extreme temperatures.

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The Grampians fire has now grown to more than 40,000 hectares.

“We are expecting temperatures to be in the low 40s across most of the state and the high 30s for the southern parts… but it’s those hot northerly winds that will be causing concern for fire authorities,” CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said.

“The fuel is very dry. The bush is dry. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, it is ready to burn,” Heffernan said.

“It will be a very challenging day.”

Melbourne had heavy rainfall yesterday, however, authorities said it made little difference.

100 interstate personnel are being sent to Victoria ahead of catastrophic conditions.

Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said 18 aircraft and 300 firefighters have been deployed in the national park’s forested area.

“When that weather changes on Boxing Day, that fire is going to move and it’s going to move quickly,” Hardman said.

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