Community
12 April, 2024
Farmers, CFA begin burning off
SOME residents may have been seeing smoke around the region, but will be glad to know most of these fires are not emergencies.
With fire restrictions easing in some parts of the State, and calm autumn conditions, hundreds of private, agricultural and planned burns are expected to take place in the coming weeks.
While current conditions are ideal for burning, weather patterns may cause smoke to linger over parts of the state overnight and through to early morning.
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) chief fire officer Chris Hardman said it was crucial fire agencies took advantage of favourable conditions when they presented.
“Planned burning on public land is one of the tools FFMVic uses to keep Victoria safer from bushfires,” he said.
“While we burn to the conditions not the calendar, autumn generally gives our crews more opportunities to conduct planned burns as the weather is more stable and fire behaviour is manageable and generally predictable.
“With the current favourable weather and forest conditions, we are dedicating all available resources to deliver planned burning.
“Reducing fine fuels such as grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and fallen branches means fires are less intense and slower to spread, making it more likely that firefighters can keep bushfires small and contained before they pose a risk to communities.”
Mr Hardman said visible smoke can be a result of private resident or agricultural burns, chimney smoke or planned burns.
“We work closely with and use information from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Bureau of Meteorology to keep the smoke impact from planned burns as low as practically possible and inform the community while delivering the program,” he said.
“Victorians can also sign up for planned burn notifications to prepare for any impact on their health or activities.”
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan is urging Victorians to research and understand permit requirements before conducting private burn-offs.
“While the Fire Danger Period has ended in a few areas, it remains in place across the majority of Victoria,” he said.
“It's your responsibility to know what restrictions are in place so if you're in doubt, you can find out what you can and can't do during a Fire Danger Period by referring to the Can I or Can't I? page of the CFA website.
“We have seen a number of private burns escape over recent weeks so if you do intend to conduct a planned burn you will need to apply for a permit and ensure that all burning activities comply with the permit prescriptions and requirements.”
Victoria’s chief environmental scientist Professor Mark Patrick Taylor said EPA understands smoke from any source, including planned burns and private burn-offs, can cause health concerns.
“Be prepared by watching for FFMVic planned burn notifications and by checking the air quality for your area through our EPA’s AirWatch air monitoring system,” he said.
“Your nose is also an excellent smoke detector.
“If you can smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health.”