‘Early finish’ to fire season

Erin Pearson
FIRE restrictions could ease across the region as early as next week after the safest bushfire season in 20 years, according to a CFA operations manager.
Gerry Verdoorn said the CFA was considering ending restrictions two months early after “the most unusual” season.
The end of the fire season would allow property owners to resume burning waste and plant materials again without CFA permits.
Mr Verdoorn said this summer’s bushfire season was so strange that CFA members had spent much of the past month fighting floods instead of fires.
“It’s good for our people to have a quieter year and a chance to draw breath. We’ve had a number of years that have been exceptionally dry requiring a lot of work and activity.”
Mr Verdoorn said the Geelong region’s fire risk had fallen in February to allow a decision on ending the season early.
“At the moment we’re looking at lifting fire restrictions because the conditions are so lush and green. Even back in December it was the first time in around 18 to 20 years where we didn’t have fire restrictions in before Christmas.
“It’s been quite extraordinary and looking like our shortest fire season in a very long time.”
The Independent reported in November the CFA was warning townships around Geelong to brace for their first grassfire threats in “more than a decade” after drought-breaking rain.
But soaking summer rain had instead covered the region in lush, green grass, Mr Verdoorn said.
“While rains over winter saw a lot of green grass start to die out and cause risk, extended follow-up rain kept the grass green, cutting back our level of risk.”
Department of Sustainability and Environment announced this week it hoped to begin its autumn burn-offs this week with almost two weeks of summer left to go.
The initial 21-hectare burns would be around Lorne and Stoney Creek.
Otway district land and fire manager Andrew Morrow said the department was waiting for a final check of ground and weather conditions before starting the burns.
“If the burns go ahead fire crews will patrol both areas on Thursday and Friday. We’ve had a lot of rain over the recent months and this will make it hard to do some of our planned burns,” he said.
“Some areas are simply too wet to burn at the moment.”