http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/rescuer-saves-woman-from-drowning-at-r...Fire, energy warning with temperatures set to soar into the 40s this afternoon
* Aaron Langmaid with AAP
* From: Herald Sun, AAP
* January 11, 2010 8:28AM
Code red warning declared in Victoria
UPDATE 9am: THE temperature is set to hit 43 degrees in Melbourne today and nudge the mid 40s in the western district of Wimmera, where the state's first code red catastrophic fire warning has been declared.
Authorities are warning people to keep cool, drink lots of water and stay safe in the water across the state.
The electricity safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria, has warned Victorians to expect power disruptions because of the heat and strong winds.
Residents are being urged to keep their electricity use down and set their air conditioning thermostats at 25 degrees or higher.
A total fire ban has been declared across Victoria and fire chiefs have warned people in the Wimmera district to get out by early Monday morning if they choose to leave their homes.
National parks, including the Grampians, have been closed and campers and holidaymakers have been warned to leave.
"Importantly get information, act and survive, this is the key message,'' Country Fire Authority chief fire officer Russell Rees said.
"It is vital now more than ever with this difficult weather that people listen to the radio, keep themselves up to date with fire danger and keep themselves informed.''
Paramedics were yesterday called to two cases of dehydration and a drowning scare on the Mornington Peninsula.
A 56-year-old woman was taken to hospital after getting into difficulty in the water at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula about 7.15pm yesterday.
She was pulled from the water after she jumped from the pier and became weak in the water.
Paramedics were called to the scene just after 7pm.
Ambulance officer Kane Grose said the woman had been swimming for between 10-to-15 minutes before she became tired.
"The woman couldn't swim any more and raised her arms to get help,'' Mr Grose said.
"Someone who was nearby jumped into the water and pulled the woman back to the pier.
"She had swallowed some salt water while (she was) struggling.''
The woman was taken to Rosebud Hospital in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, Ambulance Victoria has issued a warning for people to stay in the shade during today's stifling heat after two people were hospitalised with severe heat stroke.
Officers were called to Skye to help a badly sunburnt 17-year-old girl.
The teenager vomited several times on Saturday night and collapsed when she got out of bed early yesterday.
And last night paramedics treated a 16-year-old girl at Carrum.
The girl had blistered shoulders and was shaking when paramedics arrived.
She was given pain relief through an inhaler and half a litre of fluid through a drip and was taken to Frankston Hospital.
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