General News
16 December, 2025
“Green drought” contributes to increased bushfire risk throughout summer
Despite spring bringing some rainfall over the Central Goldfields, an increased bushfire risk has been declared for the region this summer.
According to the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC), long term rainfall deficits will persist in the central, west and south west parts of Victoria.
Recent rain has temporarily boosted soil moisture and spring growth. However, the effects of long term severe dryness is evident in the abundance of dead elevated vegetation within forest and heathy woodlands, which will rapidly turn to a highly flammable condition in January and February.
Goldfields Group Officer Peter Higgins is warning the community conditions will worsen if locals aren’t fire safe.
“What you’re looking at in the fires in New South Wales is going to make its way down to us,” he said.
“There are fires still out of control, and eventually they will come out in anger somewhere. In another fortnight or three weeks, the fire danger will be here like it is up there. We need to be careful about what we are doing.”
According to AFAC, no strong signal for either above or below average rainfall has been predicted.
Without continued heavy rainfall, drying of forests and curing of grasslands will continue through December.
“Paddy’s Ranges is on our door step, the Pyrenees and Havelock forest and surrounding grasslands have had continual bits of rain which has thickened the grass up, so we are heading in that direction,” he said.
“But it’s a green drought. We get the rainfall that keeps things green but it’s not enough for ground run, so a lot of the dams are empty, and we won’t be able to drag water out of them with a helicopter this year.
“Helicopters might have to go five or 10 minutes longer. We are really going to struggle for water.”
Mr Higgins is continuing to advise locals to become confident in their fire plans, and not think they won’t need it yet.
“If we are expecting a high risk day, when do you make the decision to leave? If it is going to be an extreme or catastrophic fire danger rating, are you leaving the night before or early in the morning?” he said.
“At this stage, identify where your safe places are in the community. If you are going to leave with animals, know how you are going to transport them.
“Get those fire plans in place, you really need them, know how to use them, practice, practice, practice. If it hits the fan, you’ll know what to do.”
Elsewhere across the state, bushfire activity can still be expected under periods of hot, dry, and windy weather.
Conditions will continue to be monitored by AFAC to review risk areas leading into the peak fire season.