‘Blast furnace': Warning over heat risk as Victoria braces for extreme fire danger

Victorians should cancel outdoor activities during extreme heat on Saturday, authorities say, as emergency services roster on more paramedics for what is expected to be the hottest day in two years.

Acting Premier James Merlino, Emergency Management Victoria
 commissioner Craig Lapsley and Ambulance Victoria commander
 Paul Holman provide an update on the heat and fire risk. 

The advice comes as authorities are also bracing for an extreme fire risk, with strong northerly winds set to whip the state as temperatures climb to near-record levels.

Read the Melbourne Age story by Amber Schultz and Benjamin Priess - “‘Blast furnace': Warning over heat risk as Victoria braces for extreme fire danger.”

Victorians wilt as temperatures soar

Twenty people were hospitalised as Victorians wilted in searing temperatures on Saturday.

Paramedics were called to 50 heat-related cases throughout the day, but were bracing for more with Melbourne expecting its hottest night on record.

The temperature hit 41.2 degrees in Melbourne at 3.20pm, with the mercury not expected to fall below 30 degrees before midnight.

Read the story in the Melbourne Age - “Melbourne weather:Twenty hospitalised as Victorians wilt in scorching heat.”