Fire restrictions announced for Ballarat and surrounds

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 15 Operations Manager Chris Bigham said the extensive winter rains experienced around Ballarat has provided moisture to promote extensive grass growth. With the advent of warmer weather combined with the moisture, these conditions are promoting a volume of growth that will eventually dry and become available to burn as the temperature rises. CFA encourages all landholders to attempt to clean up their properties in order to mitigate any potential impact of fire that is spreading because of the volume of the available fuel.

“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 Bigham 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 Bigham 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.