Bushfire season begins in Geelong region

BUSHFIRE season is officially on for three municipalities in the Geelong region.

At 1am on Monday this week, the Fire Danger Period began for the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe.

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Victoria released on November 25 identified potential for increased grassfire conditions for the 2021/22 fire season.

Much of Victoria has experienced average to above average rainfall during winter and spring, and this has led to above-normal pasture growth across paddocks and roadsides for much of the state, which is likely to increase the grassfire risk throughout the summer period.

Grassland and drier forests including woodlands and heathlands have been assessed as normal, however shorter fires are still likely to occur on hot, dry and windy days.

District 7 Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Wayne Aylmer reminded Victorians that even an average fire season in the state could still be a bad one.

“Conditions through the last fire season were similar to what we’re expecting this year, and during those months we saw significant grass fires in the north and west of the state,” he said.

“Throughout the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe municipalities, we’ve had plenty of winter and spring rainfall, and now the grasslands have rapidly dried dry out with the warmer weather which has seen the increased fuel loads having a greater fire potential.

“Reducing fuel loads in these areas will ensure if a fire does break out, it has less chance of taking hold or 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 use common sense and take responsibility for preventing fires.”

If people are using fire to clean up around their properties, they should register these online at firepermits.vic.gov.au, or by phoning the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511.

A/ACFO Aylmer said there was still an opportunity to clean up properties if that work hadn’t already been done.

He said once the Fire Danger Period (FDP) came into effect, CFA had a zero-tolerance approach to any fires caused by negligent behaviour.

“Expect any escaped or uncontrolled fire you start to be investigated by CFA and Victoria Police.” Once a Fire Danger Period has been declared in your local government area, fires cannot be lit in the open air without a written permit from CFA or a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.

There are very strict conditions attached to these permits, and the liability sits with the permit holder to ensure they always act safely.

Fire Danger Period restrictions already apply across parts of Victoria, with further Fire Danger Periods to be introduced across the state in the coming weeks in accordance with local conditions.