One home lost in Vic bushfires

One home has been lost in out of control bushfires threatening towns in Victoria's west. Source: AAP

ONE home has been lost in out of control bushfires threatening towns at the foothills of the Grampians in Victoria's west.

FIRE Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley confirmed the house had burnt down in Moyston.

While crews have contained the bushfire and downgraded an emergency fire warning to a watch and act message on Friday evening, Mr Lapsley said crews would be fighting the blaze throughout the night.He said wind forecast overnight meant the fire could pose challenges for crews.As flames raced towards her property, Moyston guesthouse owner Karen Fraser was grateful emergency crews were there."It was very close to where we are," Ms Fraser told AAP on Friday."We could see flames in the paddock across the road. We're very grateful they were able to stop it coming to us."She said a lack of fuel in the paddock and favourable conditions also helped contain the blaze near her property.Thick smoke still covers the area, Ms Fraser said from her Ararat-Halls Gap Road property.The out of control bushfire has burned 4796ha in Moyston and residents have been told that it's too late to leave.The Country Fire Authority still has 60 tankers and 11 aircraft battling the blaze.Residents of the nearby town of Maroona have also been told to leave as the fire is heading towards them.A relief centre has been set up at the nearby town of Ararat and some roads into and out of Moyston have been closed.A watch and act alert was downgraded on Friday evening to an advice message for St Arnaud, north of Moyston, with residents told they are no longer under threat.Victoria has an extreme fire danger rating, with temperatures predicted to hit 40C in the west and winds gusting up to 90km/h.

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Vic fire conditions set to get worse

Bushfires are threatening Victorian towns and emergency bosses warn conditions will only get worse. Source: AAP

BUSHFIRES are threatening Victorian towns and emergency bosses warn the extreme conditions will only get worse.

RESIDENTS of Moyston in Victoria's west have been told it is too late to leave as firefighters battled an out-of-control blaze pushing towards their town on Friday afternoon, with nearby Maroona also threatened.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley says high overnight temperatures are expected to create even worse fire conditions on Saturday."Be attuned for the 48 hours, be attuned about what happens overnight and make sure you understand that it's not just going to be fires that run in the daylight hours," Mr Lapsley told reporters on Friday.He told Victorians to monitor several forms of emergency information to ensure they didn't miss important information in the early hours of Saturday.Temperatures are tipped to stay as high as 28c overnight, before hitting 39c in Melbourne and more than 40c in regional areas on Saturday.Ambulance Victoria's Paul Holman said the overnight heat would mean ill and elderly people could struggle on Saturday."The body doesn't have enough time to recover," he said.Mr Holman said people should check on their neighbours and make sure they stay hydrated and out of the heat if possible."Some of the interesting research out recently has shown that slushies, or ice drinks, are very effective in cooling. So that's probably a good tip for people - use slushies," he said.Premier Daniel Andrews told parents not to leave children in cars, and to report anyone lighting fires."Today is about making sure we do nothing to contribute to a fire," he said.Victoria Police acting commissioner Tim Cartwright urged people to call 000 if they see anyone lighting a fire or welding or using an angle grinder.

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Vic man drowns off Jan Juc beach

A YOUNG man has drowned at the popular Jan Juc beach, south of Geelong.

THE 21-year-old St Albans man had been swimming by himself near Bird Rock when he disappeared.

He was spotted by a jet skier on Friday afternoon and pulled from the water by lifesavers.Emergency services were called while lifesavers performed CPR but they were unable to revive the man.Ambulance Victoria previously said two people were pulled from the water but police confirmed the man had been swimming solo.Ambulance Victoria said the incident was a timely reminder that holidaymakers and those escaping the heat need to stay safe.

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The national Xmas/NY road toll

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR ROAD TOLL AS OF 2030 AEDT on Friday, JANUARY 2.

FATALITIES:

* NSW - 6* VICTORIA - 4* QUEENSLAND - 4* ACT - 0* WA - 3* SA - 7* NT - 0* TASMANIA - 2TOTAL: 26(EDS: The national road toll period runs from 0001 December 23, 2014 until 2359 January 3, 2015, local times, in line with the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board.)

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Thousands apply to be shot at in UK

AN unusual job advert for someone to have paintballs shot at them to test their impact has attracted more than 10,000 applications from across the world.

UKPAINTBALL said it was overwhelmed at the scale of the response to its bid to employ a Human Bullet Impact Tester.

The firm, which operates at 60 locations across the UK, said it had received expressions of interest from as far away as India, the United States, Canada and Croatia for the job that pays STG40,000 ($A73,000) a year.Comments in the applications included: "I'm a rugby player and I used to play airsoft without protection so I know physical pain. I can also break watermelon with my head."I always dreamed of being face-covered by paint while screaming so I think I can be the perfect tester."Another hopeful candidate said he was fat - so easier to aim at.Justin Toohig, owner of UKPaintball.co.uk, said: "This incredible response is the last thing we expected when we posted the advert."We couldn't have predicted that so many people in the UK and beyond would want to get shot for a living."We've had individuals hoping to secure the job including an ex-Army soldier boasting previous experience of guns and weaponry, a paintballing enthusiast who has indulged in his hobby all around the world and an ex-magician's assistant who was once almost shot for real in an illusion that went horribly wrong."It's going to be a real struggle attempting to whittle down the thousands of applicants to just one. We have been so incredibly inundated with amazing candidates wanting the job that we are now considering an X Factor-style bootcamp for the a final 10, to see just who can handle being shot for a living."

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