Still high chance of fire

The CFA is warning Victorians there is still potential risk of bushfires in coming months.
Although weather conditions have improved, February and March are set to see dry weather conditions in some parts of Victoria.
CFA’s Acting Assistant Chief Officer (West Region), Michael Boatman, said now was a good time for people to revisit their fire safety plans.
“Our message to the community is there is still the risk of fast-running scrub and grass fires, and we are not out of the danger zone just yet. This is still fire season and you still need to be prepared,” he said.
“Victorians are reminded that some of the most devastating fires in our state have occurred throughout the month of February, including the St Patricks Day fires in 2018, Black Saturday in 2009, the North East fires in 2003, and Ash Wednesday in 1983,”
“Going further back, the Gippsland Fires in 1965, Red Tuesday in 1898, and Black Thursday in 1851 all took place during February,” Mr Boatman said.
“One of last bushfire season’s highest-impact fires, the Bunyip State Park fire, destroyed 29 homes and many more outbuildings. That fire didn’t start until 1 March and burned more than 15,000 hectares before it was contained two weeks later.”
Mr Boatman said weather indications show a strong chance that Victoria will exceed the average temperature over the month of March.
“That means as we move through the next few weeks with those hotter conditions, there’s potential for grass fires, particularly to have considerable impact on spike days,” he said.
“We’ve been really pleased this season that people have heeded our warnings and left their homes and communities when we have told them to do so,” he said.
“We want people to continue to do that, but also to take responsibility for their own safety.
“We ask that they understand the risk to them, how the warnings system works and what they need to do on high-risk bushfire days in the areas they live and work in and travel to,” he said.
Visit cfa.vic.gov.au for more information about bushfire planning and preparation, and about leaving early.