How might planned burning affect me?
To find out when and where DSE and Parks
Planned burns can be inconvenient but they are needed to
Victoria might be conducting a planned burn,
make people, homes and the environment safer. Living with fire
visit www.dse.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian
is part of living in, or visiting, Victoria and that means living with
Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
planned burning. When planned burns are carried out you are likely to see or smell
is a result of a planned burn or a bushfire, tune into your local radio station or call the Victorian
up significant amounts of smoke, often with large smoke columns,
Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
depending on fuel and weather factors.
Alternatively, visit www.dse.vic.gov.au.
If you have health queries relating to smoke exposure you should
We welcome community involvement in our
seek medical advice or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.
planning for the burning program. To participate
If you are driving near a planned burn you should turn on your
How planned burning protects lives, homes and the environment in Victoria.
If you are concerned about whether smoke or fire
smoke in many parts of Victoria. Large burns in particular, will put
Traffic will be managed where smoke may affect local roads.
Preparing for fire … with fire
contact your local DSE or Parks Victoria office or call 136 186.
headlights and take extra care because of poor road visibility.
“Living with fire is part of living in, or visiting, Victoria and that means living with planned burning”
Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, March 2011 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2011 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. Printed by Stream Solutions Printed on 100% Recycled paper
More burning
ISBN 978-1-74287-023-6 (print) ISBN 978-1-74287-024-3 (online)
The Victorian Government is increasing its planned burning program
For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186
and the priority is protecting communities. The best thing to do,
Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
any planned burning where you live, when your event or function is being held, or if travelling, where you plan to visit. Specific communities may be notified of planned burns in local newspapers, by radio or through the mail, but often burns cannot be confirmed until shortly before they are lit, so notifications are not always possible.
To find out when and where a planned burn is happening anywhere in Victoria, visit www.dse.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 136 186, or through the National Relay Service (NRS) using a modem or textphone/teletypewriter (TTY) by dialling 1800 555 677, or email customer.service@dse.vic.gov.au This document is also available in PDF format on the internet at www.dse.vic.gov.au DOT 5750/11
especially in autumn, is to check ahead of time whether there will be
Making Victoria safer from bushfires Bushfires can be deadly and Victoria is a fire prone area. Fires are a danger every year, especially in the bush where there is a lot of fire fuel such as dead wood, leaf litter, bark and shrubs. In Victoria, and in many other parts of the world with high risk of bushfire, carefully managed fires are used to reduce fuel loads and help manage bushfire risk. This use of fire is called planned burning.
Victoria’s planned burning program The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) supported by Parks Victoria conduct planned burning to help protect lives, homes and the environment from bushfires. There are many different types of planned burns to suit a range of situations. Planned burns are conducted to reduce fuel and protect people, places and assets such as towns, settlements, homes, plantations, water catchments and powerlines. In more remote areas, planned burning is done to create large areas of less fuel so that in the event of a major bushfire, firefighters have the best possible chance of slowing or controlling the fire. Like natural fires, planned burns can help plants and animals that rely on fire to regenerate and stay healthy.
“Planned burns are conducted to reduce fuel and protect people, places and assets”
“Planned burning is just as important as putting out fires because it reduces the future risk of bushfire” How and where are the planned burns conducted? Planned burning is just as important as putting out bushfires because it reduces the future risk of bushfire.
Victoria’s planned burning program is based on scientific and field research into the effect of fire on the environment. Burns are carefully planned and done under strict supervision, within very particular weather and environmental conditions. Expert burn officers and trained firefighters follow a detailed operational plan for every burn. Burning is always a risky business. Managing fire is difficult because weather cannot always be predicted for every minute of every burn. But because bushfires pose an even bigger risk, fuels are being reduced at every opportunity in Victoria.
When a planned burn is underway, you may see a range of personnel as well as equipment and vehicles which can include 4-wheel-drive vehicles with water tanks, large and small fire tankers, planes and helicopters, dozers and earthmovers for creating fuelbreaks or access tracks. Like most work done on the land, planned burning depends on the weather, and burns are started all year round, all over Victoria, when the conditions are right. The most suitable weather and the bulk of the burning generally occurs in autumn (March - May). To find out when and where DSE and Parks Victoria might be conducting a planned burn, visit www.dse.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.