Prepare for fire, Australians told

Residents in bushfire-prone areas in the Australian state of Victoria are being urged to put their survival plans in place, with much of the state facing a severe fire risk tomorrow.

Country Fire Authority chief Russell Rees said emergency services were preparing for extreme fire risk in the Wimmera in northern Victoria, with severe conditions across the rest of the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a fire danger rating of extreme for the Wimmera tomorrow, with temperatures in the low 40s, winds of 35-40km/h and the potential for lightning.