Private and planned burn-offs to increase as restrictions ease

By Georgia Tacey

May 1, 2023

Where there’s smoke: Land owners and the CFA will be conducting burn-offs across the region now that cooler weather has arrived. Photo: Keith Packenham. Photo by Contributed

Private and planned burn-offs will be increasing as fire restrictions ease across the state.

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The CFA and partner agencies will be utilising the cooler autumn conditions to conduct fuel reduction burns to lower the bushfire risks for communities, with farmers and private landholders to ignite stubble burns on their properties.

With weather conditions that will prevent smoke from dispersing into the upper atmosphere, it is predicted that smoke may hang over parts of Victoria during the burning periods.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said that while the CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria worked closely with the Environment Protection Authority and Bureau of Meteorology to reduce smoke impact, smoke in regional and rural areas could come from many sources.

“Along with the important planned burns that are conducted in our forests, parks and reserves led by FFMV and the many kilometres of road, rail and grassland burns that are led by the CFA, this time of year also sees a large amount of smoke coming from the necessary burn-offs that our farmers and rural property holders complete,” he said.

“These are part of traditional farming practices where burning off of crop stubble is often needed to kill off weeds and return nutrients and carbon back in the soil.”

As the weather continues to cool, smoke will also come from the many wood heaters in households that rely on them for their autumn and winter heating.

Smoke from wood heaters will often settle in the local area, which Mr Heffernan said could often be misinterpreted as coming from planned burns.

“As the weather conditions continue to become favourable for lower intensity burning, we will look to conduct the most suitable burn-offs to ensure that our dependent native bush and grasslands are benefiting and avoid much more devastating high-intensity bushfires,” he said.

“We rely upon all Victorians to spread the message and continue to support us in the delivery of our burning programs.”

Victorians are urged to continue registering their burn-offs at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au, and for the latest information about when and where planned burns are occurring, residents are encouraged to sign up to Planned Burns Victoria at www.plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au