FIRE authorities have urged Wimmera people not to call triple zero if they see smoke in the region unless they can see flames.
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Smoke from fires burning across the state was visible across the Wimmera on Wednesday morning.
Fire services commissioner Craig Lapsley said that while the emergency services appreciated that people want to help, triple zero call-takers were being inundated with unnecessary calls about smoke across the state.
“In the coming days, and possibly longer, Victorians will be able to see and smell smoke across much of the state as a result of fires,” he said.
“The triple zero call takers are receiving a lot of calls about smoke from fires that we are already aware of so, unless you see flames or a column of smoke, please do not call that number.
“Of course, if you need emergency assistance, people shouldn’t hesitate to call triple zero," he said.
Mr Lapsley said that with hundreds of fires starting in the past few days and a number of major fires still burning across the state there will be a noticeable haze in many areas.
