Home in a district with extreme or catastrophic fire danger: what officials advise

State fire agencies have assigned catastrophic ratings to parts of Victoria (Wimmera, Northern Country and North Central) and extreme ratings across much of Victoria and nine districts in South Australia; total fire bans are scheduled on Friday in Victoria and those South Australian districts.

State fire agencies have issued extreme and catastrophic fire danger ratings for multiple districts during the ongoing heatwave. In Victoria the Wimmera, Northern Country and North Central districts were given catastrophic ratings while much of the rest of the state was rated extreme. Nine districts in South Australia are forecast as extreme. Fire danger ratings indicate how dangerous a fire would be if it started, not how likely a fire is to occur. Key facts: - Ratings are calculated by state and territory fire agencies using Bureau of Meteorology forecasts (temperature, humidity, wind), vegetation fuel loads and short- and long-term dryness measures. - Fire danger ratings are issued by district and are published up to three days in advance so upcoming conditions can be seen for each area. - Authorities describe four public alert levels (Advice; Watch and Act; Emergency Warnings) to report an active fire’s threat, and identify official broadcasters and state emergency apps for updates. - Total fire bans are scheduled for Friday across Victoria and for the nine South Australian districts rated extreme. Summary: The assigned ratings correspond to conditions in which fire behaviour would be very dangerous, and agencies report that under catastrophic ratings homes are unlikely to withstand fires. Total fire bans are set to be in place on Friday in Victoria and in the listed South Australian districts. Undetermined at this time.