MELBOURNE, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Australian firefighters were coping with high temperatures Tuesday as they battled a bushfire in the state of Victoria, officials said.
A 150-acre blaze in the East Gippsland region was brought under control with the help of two water-bombing helicopters were fighting the flames, which forced the temporary closure of the Princes Highway, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
But, Department of Sustainability and Environment Incident Controller Ben Rankin told the Australian broadcaster a predicted cool-down in temperatures and an easing of 37 mph wind gusts had yet to happen.
"We're putting a lot of effort into doing as much as we can prior to that gusty wind and we are anticipating that there could even be some showers with it so that'd support our effort as well," Rankin said.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. said fire officials warned that high-level "code red" fire ratings were in effect in Victoria's north and northeast regions as well as in most of the New South Wales' southwestern areas.
Forecasters said maximum temperatures in Victoria would reach about 109 degrees Wednesday, with relative humidity down to 8 percent and winds averaging 35 mph.
