The good news is that no lives or homes were lost in the fires around Daylesford. The bad news is that this is another extreme fire danger day.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the temperature will rise to 40ºC in some areas, with strong northerly winds. A cooler, southerly change later this morning or early this afternoon could cause fires to breach containment lines. It’s a good idea to activate your fire plan as early as possible.  

A motto, perhaps, for those living in high fire-risk areas: ‘Be prepared as best you can’. As we know from recent experience, there are some fires which we couldn’t even imagine, let alone for which we could hope to adequately prepare.

We’ve begun to activate our fire plan: we’re packed and ready to go, woollen blankets and water are in the car, the petrol tank’s full and the mobile phone battery is charged… just in case, by some fluke, we can get reception. 

For those living in high fire-risk areas, the following contacts might be useful:

ABC local radio

Bushfire Information Line: 1800 240 667

Country Fire Authority 

Emergency: Dial 000

VicRoads: 13 11 70 (road closures)

Victoria State Emergency Service

Let’s hope we don’t have to use any of them. Please keep safe.