Spate of early season fires in Victoria has authorities worried

UPDATE: AREAS of Victoria have entered drought, according to Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley.

UPDATE: AREAS of Victoria have entered drought, according to Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley.

Mr Lapsley told a press conference this afternoon Victorians needed to prepare for a long, dry and hot summer.

“The bureau is very clear about that,” he said.

Mr Lapsley said areas of central and western Victoria were now in the grip of drought.

He specifically mentioned Bendigo, Birchip and Wycheproof as being drought hit.

“There have been no soaking rains over winter, many farm dams are dry,” he said.

Mr Lapsley said some weather experts believed Victoria was experiencing similar dry conditions as 1997 or even the record drought of 1982.

Fire authorities were left red faced when the first major bushfire of the new fire season was an escaped planned burn.

The fire is still burning north of Lancefield today but is officially under control.

The CFA responded to 70 fires across the state during an unseasonal burst of hot and windy weather with temperatures soaring beyond 30 degrees.

Emergency services met today to discuss their responses to weekend’s fires and the likelihood of an earlier fire danger period for Victoria.

Mr Lapsley said the weekend proved just how dry Victoria had become.

“It doesn’t take a lot to see a windy morning, a windy afternoon or a hot day to bring what would previously be a controlled burn into an uncontrolled environment,” he said.

Mr Lapsley said planned burns needed to be better patrolled.

He said Victoria was going to enter summer “very, very dry”.

Fire officials said the early burst of warm weather was a sign of the El Nino dry weather pattern “settling in”.

A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning planned burn north of Lancefield last Wednesday broke control lines on Saturday.

At one stage over the weekend the fire threatened homes.

One aircraft is today aiding ground crews to control the fire which has burned through 1000ha of grass and scrub.

The fire burned one kilometre of farm fencing as it spread onto private land.

CFA deputy chief officer Alen Slijepcevic said the weekend fires were “a very real reminder to all Victorians to start preparing their properties now”.

“If people are burning off excess vegetation on their properties before the Fire Danger Period commences, they should always check conditions and register their burn-offs with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority by calling 1800 668 511,” he said.