Bushfires are set to intensify across large parts of Victoria, South Australia, and NSW over the holidays as emergency services prepare for the worst conditions since Black Summer.
Emergency services are preparing for extreme bushfire conditions over the Christmas break with total fire bans declared in multiple states. Hot, dry conditions will hit South Australia on Christmas Day with temperatures in the high-30s expected, prompting a total fire ban for the Mount Lofty Ranges and far west coast. "We are in one of the driest periods on record in South Australia's history," Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Tuesday.
A 45,000-hectare inferno in the Grampians National Park is expected to spread quickly on Boxing Day, with temperatures forecast of more than 40C and wind gusts potentially sparking spot fires as far as 15km from the fire front. "It's going to be a very hot day with strong and gusty northerly winds developing and bringing extreme fire dangers to much of the state," Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully told AAP.
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