By Mitchell Clarke
A Fire Danger Period for Cardinia Shire Council and City of Casey will begin from 1am on Monday 16 December.
Information released in late August from the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook found the potential for above normal bushfire activity across the coastal and foothill forests of Gippsland.
Across the state, normal bushfire activity is expected, but the CFA is warning Victorians not to be complacent with that message, stating an average fire season can be a “bad one”.
CFA District 8 operations manager Jamie Hansen said despite recent rainfall, the underlying dryness exists and presents a high fire risk in the area.
“The fire potential is further increased by Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that the next three months will be drier and warmer than average,” Mr Hansen said.
“Any rainfall we do experience in spring will produce growth, which could very easily become a high fuel load throughout the summer season if not properly managed.”
The message to residents in fire prone areas is to reduce fuel loads, with a small window of opportunity to clean up your property to ensure that if a fire is to break out, the chances of taking hold or spreading is limited.
“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.
“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.”
Burning off rules were eased throughout November by the Cardinia Shire Council, however as of 16 December, no fuel reduction burning will be allowed without a permit from the CFA.
Permits can be obtained for certain situations however there are very strict conditions and the liability sits solely with the permit holder.
Lighting a fire in the open without a permit is an offence and can bring a penalty of over $19,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment.
For more information on the Fire Danger Period, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/restrictions-during-the-fire-danger-period.
