The Fire Danger Period will begin at 01:00 on Monday, 9 December 2019 for the following municipalities in CFA's South West Region:
- Glenelg
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 ash forests in the central highlands and Otways 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 4 Operations Manager John Leben said low winter rainfall across South West means the forest in particular is dry and the grass is drying, and the fire potential is further increased by Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that the next three months will be drier and warmer than average.
"The rainfall we have experienced at the end of spring will produce growth, which could very easily become a high fuel load throughout the summer season if not properly managed," said Mr Leben.
"Reducing fuel loads will ensure that if a fire does break out, it has less chance of taking hold or spreading.
"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."
Mr Leben said there was 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 Leben 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.
