POLICE are advising people in Tasmania to ignore a mobile phone text message warning of serious fire and wind warnings sent out by Telstra today.
Victoria Police are sending the SMS message to about 1.5 million Telstra customers in Victoria between Noon and 3pm today.
The message reads: ``Victoria Police: Extreme weather expected tonight (Monday) and tomorrow, high wind and fire risk. Listen to ABC local radio for emergency updates. Do not reply.''
Tasmanian police said that unfortunately Telstra cannot separate Victorian and Tasmanian customers which means some people in Tasmania will receive the same message.
Meanwhile the Tasmanian SES has responded to a second request from Victoria to provide operational staff to assist in their Mid-West and Central region emergency co-ordination centres.
Both co-ordination centres have been activated to respond to the ongoing Victorian bush fire emergency management effort.
Adrian Webster, from SES regional office South, and Gerald Van Rongen, regional office North, will travel to Melbourne today to start their deployment.
Victorian SES is bracing itself for a challenging couple of days ahead and the deployment will allow greater flexibility for Victorian SES.