Hot, dry, and windy conditions over the weekend of 16–17 November led to more than 130 fires across regions of bush, grass and scrubland in the state. ‘Leave now’ alerts were directed to ten different communities in western Victoria, with many more given ‘watch and act’ warnings.
The most recent data identifies that the Chapple Vale fire has, so far, burned through more than 750 hectares of land. Some 1,250 hectares of native forest and blue gum plantations were burned in the now-contained Kadnook blaze, and although immediate danger has passed in Karawarren, more than 1,000 hectares have been affected.
Although firefighters have both areas under control, with the fires no longer expanding across new territory, neither blaze has yet been fully extinguished, with locals being advised by the Country Fire Authority, via VicEmergency live updates, to review their fire survival plans, and to “remain vigilent [sic]”.
The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for spring 2024 has identified an increased risk of fire for western and south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, as well as swathes of Queensland and the Northern Territory. For summer, matters are less certain.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast overview for the months of December to February predicts a wetter and hotter climate than normal. It predicts a 60–80% chance of above average rainfall for significant areas of eastern and western Australia, and an even higher chance of unusually high maximum/minimum temperatures, across almost the whole nation.
The impacts of climate change have led to an increase in extreme weather events across Australia. The same weekend that saw a heatwave and 130 fires also brought damaging winds in excess of 140 kilometres per hour, and heavy rainfall to some parts of Victoria. Trees and power lines were brought down, and more than 4,000 homes left without electricity.
