Fire restrictions have been announced for municipalities in District 2 in CFA's North West Region.
The Fire Danger Period will begin at 01.00am on Monday 30 November 2020 for the following municipalities:
• City of Greater Bendigo
• Central Goldfields Shire Council
The Fire Danger Period will begin at 01.00am on Monday 7 December 2020 for the following municipality:
• Mt Alexander Shire Council
The Fire Danger Period will begin at 01.00am on Monday 14 December 2020 for the following municipality:
• Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Victoria experienced below average rainfall for most of the state during winter, but above average rainfall occurred in East Gippsland.
While areas in the far south-west received rainfall well above average earlier this spring, pockets of Victoria received below-average rainfall.
For the remainder of the year and into the start of summer, we can expect above-average rainfall across Victoria due to the influence of La Niña, particularly across the northern parts and mountain regions.
Considering the outlook and current conditions, the fire season has the potential to be a grassfire-dominated season, with shorter-duration fires in grass and dry forests during hotter and windier days.
CFA reminds Victorians not to be complacent as an average fire season in this state can still be a bad one.
CFA District 2 Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer (A/ACFO) Mick Hembrow said rainfall totals in North West Victoria have resulted in increased yield and potential fuel load in some parts of the region.
"Grass and bush areas in the North West are rapidly drying and will sustain fire activity for the next three months." Mr Hembrow said.
"Any additional rainfall received in spring will produce growth, which could very easily result in an even higher fuel load throughout the summer season if not properly managed.
"Reducing fuel loads in these areas will ensure if a fire does break out, it has less chance of spreading."
"While CFA and our partner agencies Fire Rescue Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria are doing everything we can to prepare for the bushfire season, we look to the community to assist us in preventing fires."
Mr Hembrow 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 burns on 1800 668 511. So far this year, out-of-control burn-offs and unregistered burn-offs have already caused unnecessary callouts to brigades," he 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.
