Melton and Moorabool have been identified as among the highest-risk areas for grass and bushfires.
Emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley said both shires had to be listed as shires of significant fire risk as soon as possible. “It’s time to act now,” he said.
Mr Lapsley said the real damage was caused when fires started in, and spread to, areas close to homes and buildings.
“Melton and Moorabool are both very dry and have grass and forest, as well as lots of people, homes, major roads and highways,” Mr Lapsley said.
His warnings follow an early start to the fire season.
Earlier this month, emergency services across the state had to battle more than 100 blazes, which damaged countless properties.
A preliminary investigation by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre pointed to an above-normal fire season across most of Victoria.
THE COMBINATION OF GRASS AND FORRESTED AREAS POST A SIGNIFICANT FIRE RISK.
Minimal rain, drying conditions in eastern-central Australia that affect north westerly air patterns, and rain that dampens but doesn’t soak soil are some of the factors that indicated an earlier start to the season.
Mr Lapsley said that despite small pockets of rain, Victoria hadn’t had “soaking” rain since last month and a Bureau of Meteorology forecast indicated below-average October rainfall.
“We’re already dry and it’s going to stay dry,” Mr Lapsley said. “The only thing they haven’t been able to predict is wind, and strong winds and dry conditions are the recipe for fire.
Mr Lapsley said the fact the Melton and Moorabool municipalities were predominantly open, flat land with significant forested areas made the area a lot more dangerous for both grass and bushfires.
“A lot of people don’t see grassfires as that dangerous,” he said. “But they can be extremely fast moving and will move up to people’s back fences really quickly.”
“The biggest difference between grass and bushfires is the intensity. With bushfires there are higher flames, more heat, and they can spark embers.”
But he urged people to be equally vigilant about grassfires.
A grassfire raged close to houses on the Calder Freeway at Taylors Lakes on Tuesday, October 6.
And the Metropolitan Fire Brigade issued a ‘watch and act’ alert for a fast-moving grassfire near Calder Park Thunderdome.
For incidents and warnings, visit emergency.vic.gov.au
