By Taylah Eastwell
19 people were interviewed in relation to lighting illegal fires in the Yarra Ranges throughout the 2021/21 Fire Danger Period, with Victoria’s short season officially coming to an end on Monday 12 April.
Leading Senior Constable Peter Hamilton of Mount Evelyn Police and Fire Patrol Unit said police across the Yarra Ranges attended 23 separate incidents where fires had been lit in breach of the restrictions.
“It was a very quiet season and only ran for six weeks, from 8 February until 22 March,” he said.
“Police attended 23 fires over the period. 19 of those people were interviewed for lighting fires during the Fire Danger Period,” he said.
While restrictions are now finished, the CFA is urging residents across the state to exercise extreme caution when burning off and check local conditions.
“Fires can get out of control within minutes in dry and windy conditions, and the effects can be devastating – we want everyone to exercise extreme caution,” CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.
“While light winds can help to disperse smoke, burn-offs should not be conducted if the wind speed is more than 10kph. This can be observed when twigs and leaves are in constant motion.”
In the first week of April alone, more than 6,000 private landowner burn-offs have been registered. Some of the registrations are listed with an open date, meaning the landowner will conduct the burn over more than one day or when conditions are suitable.
The CFA warned residents to be aware that burning off of backyard heaps and smaller urban burn-offs were likely to take place in coming weeks. There are currently widespread agricultural burn-offs occurring across Victoria.
Senior Constable Hamilton and Chief Officer Heffernan both urge landowners to register their burn-offs using the Fire Permits Victoria website (firepermits.vic.gov.au), or notifying the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) by calling 1800 668 511 or emailing burnoffs@esta.vic.gov.au.
“We ask that landowners register burn-offs to help reduce the risk of CFA brigades being called out unnecessarily if a member of the public calls about smoke or a fire in the area,” Mr Heffernan said.
