SCHOOLS from Anglesea to Cobden in Victoria, should be closed on Friday in an unprecedented move to reduce the fire risk in the Otways region, the CFA says.

The Geelong Advertiser reports a host of visitor areas and tourist hotspots throughout the Otways National Park and along the Great Ocean Road will also be declared no-go zones after briefings late Wednesday between Education Department bosses, Parks Victoria heads and CFA leaders.

Region 6 CFA boss Malcolm Fallon said he had recommended the school closures because the predicted extreme weather would almost mirror the horrendous conditions during the Black Saturday blazes.

Read more in the Geelong Advertiser online.