VIC:Victorian fire season arrives

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2010
VIC:Victorian fire season arrives

The fire commissioner says Victoria has held up well in the face of its first serious
bushfire test of the summer.

Temperatures rose beyond 40 degrees in much of the state today but Commissioner CRAIG
LAPSLEY says most outbreaks were small and relatively quickly contained.

The most serious threat was in the Mallee and Wimmera regions near the South Australian border.

Mr LAPSLEY says the fires of concern are in the western part of the state but at this
stage they aren't expected to be a problem.

A total fire ban is in place across more than half of the state with only the Gippsland
and North-East regions unaffected.

A cool change is expected early this evening.

AAP RTV mh/pmu/sw

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC (MELBOURNE)

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