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The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Southern Australia released in late August 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 27 Operations Manager Bryan Russell said despite average winter rainfall across the Latrobe region, grassland and forest areas are quickly drying out.

“The rain may minimise the fire risk for just a day or two but it will not significantly delay fuels from drying out, so people should strongly consider the fire restrictions from Monday, 16 December,” Mr Russell said.

“We encourage people who have conducted burn offs over the past month to check their piles, logs and stumps as heavy fuels can smoulder and reignite in summer even after it has been extinguished.

“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 Russell said there was still a short window of opportunity to clean up your property if you haven’t already done so.

“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,” Mr Russell said.

“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.