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Preparations key as fire season nears

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Max Davies
Max Davies
Max is a journalist for the North Central Review. He joined the paper as a cadet journalist in 2021 and graduated from La Trobe University in 2023. He takes a keen interest in motorsport and the automotive industry.

Victorians can expect a drier and warmer spring with a high chance of an early start to the fire season in the central, western and northern parts of the state.

According to the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for spring, Victoria’s drier than average conditions are expected to continue following below-average rain across much of the state during winter.

However, despite less rain, grass growth is expected to be higher than usual following three years of wet La Niña conditions.

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CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said while the fire risk in Victoria had been subdued in the past three years, the state was still one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world.

“We’re asking all Victorians in high-risk areas to take simple actions to prepare their family and property as the weather begins to warm,” he said.

“We’re constantly working with our Victorian emergency service partners throughout the cooler months to prepare for fire season and this year is no exception.”

Mr Heffernan urged Victorians to find the time to sit down and prepare a bushfire survival plan or review pre-existing plans, as well as tidy their properties by clearing gutters, pruning branches and keeping grass shorter than 10cm.

Landowners are also reminded to consider private burn offs to remove green waste ahead of fire danger period declarations. All burn-offs must be registered, which can be done via www.firepermits.vic.gov.au.

“While we continue our work, our crews implore people to understand that fire safety is a shared responsibility between fire services and the community,” Mr Heffernan said.

To assist with bushfire preparedness, the Federal Government has introduced multiple improvements including the creation of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Disaster Ready Fund.

The two arms of federal emergency management were unified to create NEMA, which has been designed to provide more efficient action in disaster management.

A total $94 million has also been co-invested with Australian states and territories in 2023 to fund bushfire mitigation and preparedness through the Disaster Ready Fund.

Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said while the forecast for the region was average, it was still possible to experience significant fires.

“As Australia heads into its first significant fire season since Black Summer, it is crucial all three levels of government, along with emergency responders, are ready,” he said.

“NEMA has been working closely with state and territory services to plan for the coming fire season, assessing capability and working to streamline response efforts.

“Now is also the time for local communities to start preparing for the risk of potential fires and heatwaves.”

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