Grass fires a hazard in the region as mercury rises

“Fire danger ratings (help) predict fire behaviour should a fire start, and how hard it will be to put out.

“They tell you how dangerous a fire would be if one started. The higher the rating the more dangerous the conditions.”

One recent fire in Barmah involving farm machinery spread to a shed then nearby grass, while a second grass fire in Bamawm Extension occurred on farmland involving a large pile of hay which caught ablaze due to the unseasonally warm weather.

Two other fires took hold on private properties, but were fortunately quickly brought under control with the fast arrival of CFA crews.

While a small proportion of fires are a result of human activity, fires can occur due to negligence or poor practices.

“Total fire bans and fire danger ratings are mainly both determined by weather. But they exist for different reasons,” the spokesperson said.

“Total fire bans set restrictions on what activities can or cannot occur in a particular district for that day.

“Total fire bans are declared on days when fires are likely to spread quickly and could be difficult to control. They aim to reduce the activities that may start a fire.”

For more information and updates of what is occurring in your region, please head to the following resources:

Tune in to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations.

“Find out what you can and can't do during the declared Fire Danger Period, and on days of total fire ban, when fires in the open air are legally restricted,” the spokesperson said.

The VicEmergency app can be downloaded for Apple and Android phones.

For additional information, please visit the website that covers all of Victoria, emergency.vic.gov.au