Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) crews are currently focused on cutting grass on public land in the Murray Goldfields District to reduce the risk of grassfires this summer.
FFMVic Murray Goldfields District acting manager Andrew Koren said crews will be slashing a total of 2000 hectares across 700 locations in the coming weeks.
“One of the ways that we reduce bushfire risk in the lead up to summer is by managing long dry grass by slashing, which complements other activities such as planned burning, mulching and spraying,” Mr Koren said.
Works will take place across Kyneton and Macedon.
“Grass slashing works are carefully timed to align with the anticipated increase in grass growth; if it’s done too early, it will encourage regrowth and require follow-up treatment,” Mr Koren said.
“In the Murray-Goldfields District, we start this work in the north and move toward the south to align with the changing grass conditions.”
FFMVic crews carry out fire preparedness work all year round to reduce the risk posed by bushfires and grassfires to our communities.
“We encourage residents to cut long grass, remove leaves and twigs from the yard and clear space around the house of all flammable materials,” said Mr Koren.
Reducing fuels like grass, leaves, bark and fallen branches means a fire would be less intense and slower to spread. Less fuel for fire helps firefighters keep bushfires smaller and contained before they pose a risk to
people, communities and the environment.
If there is an area of concern on public land that has not been attended to by 19 December, please contact the DEECA Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
For more information on how to prepare your property for bushfire, please visit:
www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/before-and-during-a-fire/fire-ready-kit
