CFA has declared Total Fire Bans across all of Central district, including Gisborne for Wednesday, 25 November.

High winds and heat will also push Fire Danger Ratings into Extreme and Severe levels across much of the state, with the Mallee, Northern Country, Wimmera and North Central forecast as Extreme, while South West, Central and North East districts will be Severe.

CFA Chief Officer Joe Buffone said strong and gusty northwesterly winds peaking at up to 100km/hr were forecast before a gusty change in the afternoon in the west and central areas.

“Tomorrow we are expecting strong winds before a change in the late afternoon and possible dry thunderstorms,” he said.

“Although it has been a mild start to the week, we are bracing for a dangerous fire day tomorrow in most of the state.”

Between 00:01AM and 11.59PM on Wednesday no fire can be lit in the open air or be allowed to remain alight in the open air.

Mr Buffone urged families and households in fire risk areas to make sure they had covered all the key decisions about what will they will do if they have to leave quickly.

Please begin to think carefully about your own fire plam. A good resource is http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/grassfires-near-cities-and-towns/  to find out more about managing the risk you face.