Major burning program gathers pace

THOUSANDS of hectares of bushland will burn in the coming weeks as fire authorities ramp up fuel management programs.

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) has begun its autumn burnoff season to reduce bushfire risk at fire-prone communities near the Otways.

Ignition of fires at Moggs Creek, Anglesea and Barwon Downs last week started the latest management season, as fire conditions eased at the end of summer.

A 1756-hectare burn just south-east of Forrest was under close watch from authorities this week, while a 2,334-hectare burn at Barwon Downs and two blazes totalling 1,600 hectares just west of Lorne will soon be ignited.

Torquay CFA also helped with a small five-hectare burn at Grasstree Park Nature Reserve, opposite the Banyul-Warri fields precinct, as part of a training exercise for local firefighters.

Fire authorities conduct planned burns at high-risk bushfire areas such as the Surf Coast to limit the intensity of potential bushfires to reduce risk to communities and the environment.

FFMVic said this year’s program would build on its 2021 autumn burnoff season in the Otways, which treated more than 9300 hectares.

“Planned burning in the Otways is going to plan in 2022. We’re hoping to complete a series of high priority burns at Lorne, Forrest and Moggs Creek over the coming weeks, and will look to continue planned burning while the weather is suitable,” FFMVic’s Bo Campbell said.

“It is extremely important to complete planned burns in areas throughout the Surf Coast, to reduce the risk of bushfire impacts for communities and the environment.

“So far we have completed several planned burns around Forrest, Gellibrand and Moggs Creek.

“We also had great success burning along the Great Ocean Road at Anglesea, taking advantage of the recently constructed strategic fuel breaks around the town, ultimately protecting Anglesea by reducing the bushfire fuel.”

FFMVic said roads and trails at the burn areas could be temporarily closed throughout the season for safety.