Victoria to swelter for second straight day

Nine children were rescued from hot cars and more than 1000 homes left without power as Victorians sweltered through a dangerously hot day yesterday.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley warned people to brace for even worse conditions today.

‘‘The fire risk is real and the fire risk only gets worse with the fact that there’s no respite across the state tonight,’’ Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said yesterday.

Mr Lapsley said central and western Victoria were most at risk of bushfire, with blazes already burning near the SA border and Geelong.

Despite extreme heat warnings, chief health officer Charles Guest said there had been reports yesterday of nine children being left in parked cars.

‘‘We know that leaving children in parked cars can lead to death. I’m glad to say this hasn’t happened this summer so far,’’ he said.

More than 1000 properties in Beaufort, near Ballarat, were left sweltering without fans and air conditioners because of a power failure before operator Powercor restored electricity.

Dr Guest said people without access to air conditioning or at risk of heat exhaustion were advised to head to shopping centres or cinemas to cool down.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting temperatures to reach 42°C today with other parts of the state to see ranges in the low to mid-40s.

‘‘It’s going to be dry, hot and a change in the south, but the change won’t be helping things in the north,’’ bureau state manager Andrew Tupper said.

He said there would be a risk of dry lightning, which occurs when electrical storms hit without rain managing to make it to the ground.

Temperatures hit 39°C in Melbourne and above 40°C in regional towns yesterday.

Total fire bans remain across the Mallee, Wimmera and south-west districts in the state.

Story from the Shepparton News - “Victoria to swelter for second straight day.”