A TOTAL 2700 hectares have been burned across the Mallee in an effort to reduce fuel loads this fire danger period.
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) last week announced it had completed nearly 3000 hectares of planned burning across the region during spring to reduce bushfire risk for local communities and the environment, with other types of fuel reduction work planned for the coming months.
Fuel loads across the state have been a hot-topic in recent weeks, while the CFA has warned fuel loads and road side growth are “well above average” this year in Buloke Shire.
FFMVic senior forest fire management officer Nathan Christian said FFMVic completed five strategic burns in Murray Sunset National Park and Wathe Flora and Fauna Reserve to reduce bushfire risk to people, property and the environment.
“Our Mallee program focused on creating a strategic network of boundary fire breaks and internal corridors of fuel reduced areas on public land, so that the potential of large-scale bushfires like the Ngarkat fire in 1999 and the 2002 Big Desert Fire is significantly reduced,” Mr Christian said.
“Planned burning is only one way we remove fire fuels on public land to reduce bushfire risk to communities.”
Other methods used include slashing, mowing and clearing works plus creating and maintaining fuel breaks.
“If conditions are suitable over the coming months, we will complete around 300 kilometres of mulching, rolling and chainsaw works on public land throughout the district,” Mr Christian said.
“There isn’t as much to fuel reduction work required this season due to a lack of rainfall and low growth.
“We’d like to thank the local community for understanding the importance of our planned burn program, particularly in publicly used areas such as state forests and parks.”
Fuel management reduces the spread and intensity of bushfires which makes suppression more achievable and safer for firefighters.
This helps reduce the impact on community and the environment.
For the latest information about when planned burns are happening near you go to plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au, download the Vic Emergency app or call the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.
