<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338874</docID> <postdate>2025-02-23 07:23:06</postdate> <headline>Dry, gusty conditions prompt fire bans in southeast</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-338876" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bushfires-tasmania.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <caption>Fire officials fear hot and windy conditions might strengthen a blaze still raging in Tasmania. Photo: Tasmania Fire Service</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Adrian Black</strong> in Wodonga</span></p> <p><strong>Emergency services have declared total fire bans across Tasmania and parts of Victoria as hot and windy conditions challenge firefighters in the two states.</strong></p> <p>No fires can be lit in Tasmania on Sunday, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pits and wood-fuelled barbecues.</p> <p>More than 150 firefighters, 14 aircraft, eight bulldozers and scores of interstate and international teams have been battling fires sparked by dry lightning earlier in February.</p> <p>The blazes have scorched at least 94,500 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness and world heritage forest.</p> <p>"We have strike teams pre-positioned at strategic locations across the state ready for a rapid response if required," State Fire Commander Matt Lowe said.</p> <p>He urged Tasmanians to monitor warnings and conditions, review their bushfire plans and stay aware of nearby conditions.</p> <p>"I urge every member of the community to help our firefighting agencies by complying with the fire ban, and if you've had a fire in the past week, please check it now to ensure it is fully extinguished," Mr Lowe said.</p> <p>Further north in Victoria, total fire bans have been declared in the Central and North Central regions with hot, dry and windy conditions expected to elevate fire risks ahead of a west to southwest change.</p> <p>"We are in the middle of a prolonged 36-hour period of heightened fire danger, with worsening conditions forecast early tomorrow," Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan said.</p> <p>Temperatures of up to 36C are expected in Victoria's north, along with wind gusts up to 100km/h before a late change.</p> <p>"These conditions including strong winds, high temperatures and the risk of dry lightning mean any fire that starts could spread rapidly," Mr Heffernan said.</p> </body>