Crews keep eye on burnoffs as high-risk weather arrives

Fire crews have spent today strengthening containment lines around fuel reduction burns in the Otways, ahead of extreme fire conditions tomorrow.

Forest Fire Management Victoria has ignited burns at Dreeite, Kennett River, Lorne and Eastern View in the past week, when weather was cooler.

But weather predictions have changed significantly and hot weather has returned, with the CFA declaring a total fire ban for Saturday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, including parts of the Otway Ranges, with potential damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 kmh and peak gusts about 90 kmh developing early Saturday morning.

FFMV has advised that firefighters have today worked to strengthen containment lines around three planned burns at Kennett River, Lorne and Eastern View that started earlier this week. No further ignition is occurring.

Suppression on the burns today is including using heavy machinery to strengthen fuel breaks and aircraft to put out any hot spots within the burn area, and firefighters are laying out hose lines to enable any spot fires to be put out quickly.

Helicopters will be water bombing hot spots within burn containment lines. Fixed-wing aircraft will be laying retardant outside of the burn areas to reduce potential risk to assets.

People in Eastern View, Anglesea, Kennett River, Wye River and Lorne might continue to see smoke and aircraft in the area today.

Additional firefighters, fire trucks and aircraft, including fixed-wing and helicopters will be in position tomorrow to respond further if required.