General News
18 December, 2023
Fire mitigation works underway
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 senior Forest Fire Management Officer...
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 senior Forest Fire Management Officer, Simon Brown, said crews will be slashing a total of 2000 hectares in the coming weeks — more than the equivalent of 225 Melbourne Cricket Grounds of grass.
Works are taking place across Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maldon, Chewton, Charlton, Inglewood, Wedderburn, St Arnaud, Heathcote, Rushworth, Avoca, Kyneton, Macedon and surrounding areas.
“Grass slashing works are carefully timed to align with the anticipated increase in grass growth,” Mr Brown said.
“If it’s done too early, it will encourage regrowth and require follow-up treatment.”
Forest Fire Management Victoria crews carry out fire preparedness work all year round to reduce the risk posed by bushfires and grass fires to communities.
Mr Brown said fuel reduction on public land can only do so much, with FFMVic and CFA urging people to prepare and take action to reduce bushfire risk.
“We encourage residents to cut long grass regularly, remove leaves and twigs from the yard and clear space around the house of all flammable materials,” Mr Brown said.
Reducing fuels like grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and fallen branches means a fire would be less intense and slower to spread.
Less fuel for fire helps firefighters keep bushfires smaller and con-tained before they pose a risk to people, communities and the environment.
For more information on how we manage the risk of bushfires, visit www.ffm.vic.gov.au/bushfire-fuel-and-risk-management/managing-bushfire-risk
For more information on how to prepare you property for bushfire, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/before-and-during-a-fire/fire-ready-kit
For information on how farmers can prepare animals, property and prepare a fire plan for the bushfire season, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/ farm-management/emergency-management/bushfires