Extreme bushfire conditions this week: act responsibly, stay safe and seek support
The current bushfire in western Victoria has been burning since last week and, with extremely high temperatures forecast for Wednesday, authorities are appealing for those in affected regions and all Victorians to be careful amid fears of ‘catastrophic’ fire danger risks.
Staying safe
Keep informed
It is essential you have the right information to keep safe. To stay up to date with current bushfires and other natural disasters, see these VicEmergency sources which feature maps with the most current information, incidents and warnings:
- VicEmergency website
- VicEmergency Hotline – freecall 1800 226 226
- VicEmergency app
- Facebook or X (Twitter)
You can also tune in to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations for updates.
Plan ahead
The VicEmergency website provides further advice on how to prepare for fire dangers, plus what the Australian Fire Danger Ratings represent – remember the more dangerous the conditions, the greater the impact will be if a fire starts.
These ratings are designed to be easy to understand and provide clear advice about actions to take, with a Catastrophic rating advising you to leave bushfire risk areas for your survival. On a Catastrophic day, leaving high-risk bushfire areas the night before or early in the morning is the safest option.
Reduce your exposure to smoke
Bushfires also produce smoke haze, and poor air quality can be hazardous to your health. Advice on current air quality is on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
During these types of air quality conditions, people should minimise the time spent in smoky conditions whenever practical to do so. If your maximum visibility is 1.5 kilometres or less, your air quality is in the hazardous level, and you need to limit your time outdoors, limit exercise and follow any treatment plans.
If you are feeling unwell:
- Anyone experiencing wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing should call Triple Zero (000).
- If you have concerns about your health you should seek medical advice or call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.
Have you been affected by the bushfires?
Deakin is committed to supporting all students affected by natural disasters. If you or your family have been impacted by the recent bushfires, there is a variety of assistance available, including financial assistance, replacement of lost essentials (books, laptops etc), flexibility with study deadlines and counselling support.
Our Natural Disaster Assistant Packages include a personal combination of support services tailored to your needs. If you have been affected by a recent natural disaster, learn more and apply now.
If you need further, specific help, please contact one or more of the following services:
- For financial assistance, please contact Student Central.
- If you can’t get to classes or need extra time for an assignment or assessment, please contact Student Central or your unit chair.
- If you can’t complete an assessment task, check the eligibility and application process for special consideration.
- For counselling, please contact Counselling and Psychological Support (CAPS) or Deakin’s Multifaith Chaplains.
- International Student Advisers (ISAs) are available on all campuses and can also provide support. To contact an ISA, please email [email protected].
Thank you
We say an enormous thank you to the firefighters, emergency service workers and many volunteers who have risked their lives to protect people, homes and land and continue to do so.