Fire restrictions for Melbourne’s outer east

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Southern Australia 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 13 Acting Operations Manager Tim Holland said while recent rains meant grass was looking green across the district, it wouldn’t take long before it was dry.

“As we’ve seen with the fire in Monbulk last week, the forest is also very dry already,” he said.

“Everyone is busy as we get closer to Christmas, but this is really the time to prepare your property and your family for the fire season.”

“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 Holland said said there was still a short window of opportunity to clean up your property.

“Reducing fuel loads will ensure that if a fire does break out, it has less chance of taking hold or spreading,” he said.

“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.

“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.