Reducing bushfire risk to protect life, property, and the environment is at the heart of what Forest Fire Management Victoria does, according to FFMV’s Chief Fire Officer, Chris Hardman.

“That’s why we’re focused on planning and delivering our bushfire risk management program all year round,” Mr Hardman said.

“This past year, heavy rain and floods across large parts of the state have had a serious impact on our communities. This means fewer opportunities to lower bushfire risk through planned burning and other measures.”

Mr Hardman said after three years of lower fire risk seasons, a significant number of bushfires had already occurred in spring, particularly in the east of the state.

“My thoughts go to the communities affected by bushfire, and I thank our crews, contractors, incident management personnel and partner agencies for the work they do to keep our communities safe,” he said.

Mr Hardman said preparing for a Victorian summer takes a lot of planning.

“As part of our year-round approach to reducing bushfire risk, last year we delivered bushfire risk reduction works across more than 92,000 hectares of public land across the state,” he said.

“This included planned burning and mechanical treatments such as mulching, mowing, slashing and spraying, as well as constructing and maintaining strategic fuel breaks and upgrading and maintaining the public land road network,” he said.

“Despite the fire activity we have already seen in spring, our bushfire risk management program will continue where conditions are suitable and it is safe to do so.”

Mr Hardman said planned burning, mechanical treatments and planned burn preparation were the highest priority into late spring and early summer “because if a bushfire starts, these activities will help us suppress fires”.

“Reducing fuels like grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and fallen branches means fires are less intense and slower to spread, which helps firefighters keep bushfires smaller and contained before they pose a risk to the things we care about – our communities and our environment,” he said.

Mr Hardman said Victoria would always have bushfires, but communities should know that when a bushfire starts.

Close to 1800 FFMVic personnel are expected to be on the frontline this season.

“They are part of DEECA’s 3000 personnel who perform a fire or emergency role, which also include around 1200 personnel who hold accreditations in incident management roles,” he said.

“Our firefighting equipment includes more than 500 ultralight tankers, around 100 heavy tankers, as well as more than 300 additional plant and trucks including dozers, tractors, graders, loaders, forklifts and excavators.

“Ground operations are also supported by Victoria’s aerial fleet of 51 aircraft contracted for the 2023/24 summer season. The fleet includes a mix of firebombing aircraft, air supervision and aerial information gathering aircraft. It is supplemented by up to 100 aircraft that can be called when needed.

“We are also supported by a plant panel of around 400 contractors (including 19 harvest and haulage contractors) that we can call on for fire suppression work using skilled personnel, dozers, graders, excavators, harvesters and other machinery.”

However, Mr Hardman said Victorians also needed to be prepared for bushfires if they live, work or visit areas at risk of fire.

“With drier and warmer than usual spring and summer conditions, we expect Victorians will be looking forward to getting outdoors to explore and enjoy our beautiful state forests and parks. We ask visitors to take extra care with campfires and always know and follow the rules as it can take just one stray ember to cause a destructive fire,” he said.

“Please never leave a campfire unattended and always put a campfire out with water. If the ashes are cool to touch – it’s safe to leave. More information about campfire safety is available on the FFMVic and CFA websites.”

Mr Hardman said to keep up to date on planned burns near properties, landholders should sign up to receive notifications at Planned Burns Victoria or download the VicEmergency app.

You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play.