Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) intends to take advantage of favourable weather and forest conditions across the state to reduce the risk of bushfires on the community and environment.

FFMVic Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Aaron Kennedy, said planned burning is one of the key tools firefighters use to reduce the size, intensity, and impact of bushfires.

“As we have seen already this year, out of control bushfires can have a significant impact on people, property and the environment if started under the wrong conditions,” he said.

“Reducing fuels such as grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and fallen branches means fires are less intense, slower to spread, and safer for firefighters to control.

“Autumn is generally the best time of the year to undertake planned burns as the weather is more stable and fire behaviour is manageable and predictable.”

This year 111 planned burns covering an area of 56,486 hectares are prepared and ready for ignition in north east Victoria.

Priority burns are planned in state forest, parks and reserves around Koetong, Lucyvale, Corryong, Bright, Tawonga, Beechworth, Mitta Mitta, Marysville, Upper Gundowring, Kinglake, Toolangi, Tatong, Tolmie, Gaffneys Creek and Jamieson.

“While planned burning is our most effective tool to reduce bushfire risk, in locations where planned burning isn’t suitable we mulch, mow, slash and spray, build fuel breaks and maintain the public land road network to keep Victorians safer,” Mr Kennedy said.

FFMVic is made up of skilled and experienced staff from Victorian fire and land management agencies. Its partners include the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and VicForests.

Register for the latest planned burn updates at https://plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au/.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 21 March 2024.