Australia firefighters battle ’emergency level’ blazes

Firefighters in the Australian state of Victoria are battling at least six major fires as a record-breaking heatwave hits the country’s south-east.

Two fires are currently burning at “emergency level” according to local broadcaster ABC News. Several communities have been issued emergency warnings to either evacuate, watch and wait, or shelter in place.

Fire officials warn that the situation is changing rapidly and have asked locals to stay up to date with the latest warnings.

The Bureau of Meteorology says that parts of the state have seen all-time temperature highs – with one area hitting a high of 48.9C. Melbourne has recorded a temperature of 41C.

Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, had told reporters that the state’s heat conditions were making conditions “incredibly difficult” for firefighters.

Two fires – in Camperdown and Otways – are burning at emergency level. A new fire in the Larralea area is also causing “significant concern”.

Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Hefferman told ABC Radio that there was a danger that the Otways fire could produce ember showers “which can create more fires in front of the main fire”.

It is unclear what damage has been caused by the fires, but Australia’s Deputy Incident Controller Alistair Drayton, said he had “anecdotal evidence” that some homes had been lost.

He also praised the “spectacular” work done by firefighters so far.

Apart from Victoria, where there is a total fire ban, South Australia has also been placed under alert for “extreme” fire risk.

Meanhwile health officials have warned that the prolonged heat carries significant health risks.

The elderly, children and people with underlying health conditions are most at risk, Victoria chief health officer Caroline McElnay told reporters.

“It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke but it can also trigger events like heart attacks or stroke.”

Scientists are clear that human-caused climate change is making heatwaves much more likely and more intense globally.

And Australasia has seen an increasing frequency and severity of heat extremes in recent decades, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

South-east Australia also experienced extreme heat in early January, with temperatures surpassing 40C.

A rapid study by scientists at the World Weather Attribution group estimated that the high temperatures across a three-day period were now at least five times more likely as a result of climate change.

While fires occur naturally in Australia, these hot, dry conditions can make it much easier for fires to spread, potentially fuelling larger blazes.

And as the world continues to warm, Australia is expected to see further increases in these “fire weather” conditions, according to the IPCC.

Additional reporting by Mark Poynting