Victoria fires live updates: Soaring temperatures forecast across the ...

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The search for missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy has been postponed this week due to the catastrophic fire danger rating in western Victoria.

A volunteer lead search planned for this Saturday will not go ahead due to the fire danger and to avoid putting strain on emergency service resources.

Hundreds of Ballarat residents and visitors joined a large-scale search on the weekend, as police shifted their attention to Mount Cole - about six kilometres from where Murphy was last seen.

Samantha Murphy was last seen outside her Ballarat East home on the morning of February 4.

A spokesperson for Ground Crew, which organised Saturday’s search, said a number of it’s volunteers also worked with State Emergency Services.

Tori Baxter said the group remained committed to the search for Murphy, who has been missing for more than three weeks.

“Our volunteers have dual roles, we support them with their wider community engagement,” she said.

“More large-scale searches are planned for the future but it does take planning and commitment.”

Victoria Police said they would not be searching for Murphy on Wednesday. A spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing.

Inmates at the minimum security Langi Kal Kal prison, east of Beaufort, have been evacuated ahead of worsening fire conditions predicted later today.

The prison, which stretches over 2695 acres, operates as a working farm with a focus on rehabilitating prisoners ahead of their release into the community.

Corrections Victoria said all male prisoners had been relocated to other prisons, including Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat, the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall and Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara, as a precautionary measure on Tuesday.

Five NSW fire trucks made their way to Ballarat on Tuesday where they’ll be based over coming days to assist with fire activity.

Strike teams and more than 110 firefighters from NSW headed south to bolster Victoria’s emergency response. A larger air tanker and Black Hawk helicopter from NSW have also been made available.

NSW Rural Fire Services set up in Ballarat on Wednesday morning as a reserve crew to provide back-up across the west of the state.

Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan issued a last-ditch plea for residents to evacuate the fire zone on Wednesday morning, telling ABC TV no houses were designed to survive catastrophic conditions.

NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters in Ballarat, preparing to assist in western Victoria today.Credit: Nick Moir

“Unless your property is immaculately prepared and you have firefighting resources available, and that you are fit and mentally capable to sustain a long duration firefight in protecting your own home, my strong advice to community is leave early,” Heffernan said.

He said a cloud band over western Victoria had suppressed conditions during the morning but as soon as that breaks down scorching temperatures were set to kick in.

NSW firefighters in Ballarat.Credit: Nick Moir

“Today, unfortunately, there’s real potential for thunderstorm and dry lightning as well, which could introduce further fire into the landscape,” he said.

-with AAP

Extreme fire danger is also expected for much of eastern South Australia today.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs has warned the state’s firefighters are facing some of the harshest weather this summer.

Seven South Australian districts had an extreme fire danger rating on Wednesday.

“It’s entirely reasonable for the community to have enjoyed what has been some respite this summer, and we are days away from autumn,” Szakacs told reporters.

“(But) complacency must be parked to the side. We are, as a state, facing some serious conditions.”

There has been no rain in the state’s capital this month and none forecast for the rest of February.

“Indeed, with the final three days of the month upon us and virtually no chance of a shower in the forecast, it appears highly likely that Adelaide will not see a drop of rain this February,” Weatherzone reports.

That would make it:

The first completely dry February since 2007The 11th completely dry February in records going back to 1839The first completely dry February in a leap year since 1860.

Adelaide days have also been very warm this February, with average maximum temperatures to date sitting at 30.2 degrees, compared to the long-term average of 28 degrees, Weatherzone says.

In addition to the extreme and catastrophic fire risk today, Victoria’s State Emergency Service has warned of the potential for severe thunderstorms.

In Melbourne, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a change of thunderstorm during the afternoon and early evening. Northerly winds of up to 45 km/h are forecast to shift west to southwesterly winds up to 35 km/h in the evening.

The Mallee is slated to reach the mid-40 degrees with winds of up to 45km/h, while other parts of Victoria are expected to creep into the 40s. Dry lightning is predicted in western and central parts of Victoria on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bayindeen bushfire north-west of Ballarat has burnt through more than 21,300 hectares of land and affected several state parks and state forests.

Forest Fire Management Victoria has advised of the following closures today:

State forest closures:

Mount Cole State ForestBen Major State ForestMt Lonarch State ForestFortes Bush State ForestMusical Gully State ForestCamphill State Forest.

Parks Victoria closures:

Mount Buangor State Park (those who have booked for campsites have been notified by Parks Victoria)Ben Major Nature Conservation Reserve (NCR)Langi-Ghiran State Park

At least a dozen main roads remain closed as a result of the Bayindeen bushfire, which is still burning out of control in the state’s west.

A CFA helicopter putting out bushfires in the Grampians.Credit: Eddie Jim

The following roads are closed:

Pyrenees Highway from Ararat to AmphitheatreBeaufort-Lexton RoadLexton Ararat RoadMain Lead Road at King Street, Beaufort to RaglanEurambeen-Raglan Road, Eurambeen from Western Highway to RaglanRaglan-Elmhurst Road from Raglan to ElmhurstAmphitheatre Road from Amphitheatre to ChuteMount Cole Road from Warrak to Mt ColeBuangor-Ben Nevis Road from Warrak to Western HighwayFerntree Gully Road from Western Highway to Mt BuangorJones Road, from Black Bottom Road to Waterloo,Trawalla Waterloo Road, between Beaufort-Lexton Road to Racecourse Road

Check the VicTraffic website (traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/) or call 13 11 70 for road closures.

The current warnings are active for fires in Victoria as a 22,000 hectare blaze in the Pyrenees Shire continues to burn in thick bushland.

Stay informed (issued at 9.19am): This advice is for Bayindeen, Buangor, Middle Creek, Raglan, Buangor East and Eurambeen. The bushfire at Bayindeen-Rocky-Road is not yet under control and is still active in this area.Stay informed (issued at 9.27am): This advice is for Eversley, Glenlofty, Glenpatrick, Nowhere Creek, Percydale and Warrenmang. The bushfire at Bayindeen-Rocky Road is not yet under control and is still active in this area. It is not safe to return to the warning area.Stay informed (issued at 9.30am): This message is for Avoca, Green Hill Creek, Lamplough, Lexton, Rosyth. The bushfire at Bayindeen-Rocky Road is not yet under control and is still active in this area. It is not safe to return to the warning area.