Authorities have warned Sunbury and Macedon Ranges landholders there’s no room for complacency ahead of what’s expected to be another dangerous fire season.
Modelling released last week by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre reveals large areas of southern Australia, especially central Victoria, face an above- average potential for bushfires this season.
A long, hot, dry summer has been predicted due to a strengthening El Nino weather pattern. Emergency Management Victoria commissioner Craig Lapsley said the forecast predicted the fire season could start earlier than usual.
‘‘This is an early warning to carry out fire prevention works in October and November,’’ he said. ‘‘Preparing early will be critical as it’s likely the season will be upon us from December and through to February.’’
Mike Dornau, spokesman for the Mountain group of CFA brigades, covering Mount Macedon, Macedon, Gisborne, Newham and Riddells Creek, said 10 years of low rainfall meant forests and land were extremely dry. ‘‘We were out testing the other day … you start digging and you’ve only got a couple of millimetres before there’s no moisture.”
He warned landholders of the dangers of having a false sense of security.
‘‘You’ve got a lot of people who are diligent and they clean up their land every year,’’ Mr Dornau said. ‘‘Then there’s the other end, where you’ve got people who will never clean up, but in the middle you’ve got those who can get complacent.
‘‘Put yourself six months forward. You’d hate to be saying that, maybe if I had cleaned up my house would have been saved.’’
Emergency management agencies will take part in 17 pre-season briefings in September and October.
Almost 50 aircraft will support firefighting efforts across the state this summer.
