The Fire Danger Period will begin at 1am on Monday, 23 December 2019 for the following municipalities in CFA's South West Region:
•Southern Grampians Shire Council
•Moyne Shire Council
•Warrnambool City Council
The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Southern Australia released in late August identified potential for above normal bushfire activity across the coastal and foothill forests of East Gippsland, and there's also a growing risk north of the divide extending into south east New South Wales.
A warm and dry outlook also carries some risk that forested areas such as the Grampians may dry out faster and become more flammable than normal during summer. Across the rest of Victoria, normal bushfire activity is expected, but CFA reminds Victorians that even an average fire season in the state can be a bad one.
CFA District 5 Operations Manager Richard Bourke said fire danger levels are dependent on the strength of the wind, temperature, dryness and expected shift in cold fronts.
"During this time of year, our region usually experiences a Fire Danger Rating of Very High, Severe or higher and it's on days like this that the community needs to enact their fire plan," Mr Bourke said.
"While CFA and its partner agencies Parks Victoria, Forest Fire Management, and Emergency Management Victoria are doing everything we can to prepare for the bushfire season, we look to the community to use common sense and take responsibility for preventing fires
He said there is still a short window of opportunity to clean up your property if you haven't already done so.
"People need to be aware that if using fire to clean up around their properties they need to register these on 1800 668 511. So far this year, out-of-control burn-offs and unregistered burn-offs have already caused unnecessary call-outs to for brigades," Mr Bourke said.
"You should not burn off when winds are high or high winds are forecast - not only on the day of your burn but for the days afterwards."
