Spring bushfire risk for Western Victoria

Western Victoria has been identified as a spring bushfire risk, as residual fire fuel loads for the region sit seven per cent higher than government targets.

Western Victoria is bracing for increased bushfire risk this spring, as national agencies prepare resources for the coming months.

It comes as the State Government’s own analysis of residual fire fuel loads in the region sit seven per cent higher than targets, with Bureau of Meteorology climatic forecasts for spring highlighting a potential early start to bushfire season through the Wimmera, Grampians National Park, and the Mallee.

The National Emergency Management Agency has flagged areas of Australia, including Victoria’s far west and southwest, as particularly vulnerable to fire risk this spring, following “an unusually dry autumn and winter”.

Dry winter conditions aligns with the Victorian Government’s own analysis of residual bushfire risk to the state, with the government’s fuel-driven bushfire risk for the Grampians region and district in 2022-23 sitting at 77 per cent, seven per cent higher than the target of 70 per cent for the region.

Bushfires north of Beaufort in Victoria in February 2024. Picture: David Crosling

Forest Fire Management chief officer Chris Hardman said the FFMVic has reduced bushfire risk across more than 138,000ha of public lands – including the Grampians region – throughout the year, “building on the 90,000ha treated last year”.

It is understood FFMVic has undertaken planned burning this year, including ecological burns at Wilsons Promontory, and mosaic burns in the Otways and Lower Glenelg National Park.

“This isn’t just about a single burn or one season, it’s about ongoing work we’ve done in the past and continue to do year round, as well as our future plans to keep protecting our communities,” Mr Hardman said.

“In addition to managing bushfire risk on public land, FFMVic is ready to respond with more than 3000 personnel working alongside our emergency sector partners to keep communities safe and informed about bushfire risk and how best prepare over the summer season.”