Bushfires have already broken out this week in areas including Majorca, just south of Maryborough on Tuesday, while on Thursday night crews were called to reports of a fire near Meredith.

While conditions might be generally green around Ballarat, The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a drier than usual spring, meaning conditions are expected to brown off in the coming few weeks, leading to dangerous fire conditions.

It is predicted that much of the state will experience earlier than usual bushfire conditions with predictions that fire season will start long before the traditional January-February danger period.

A Majorca resident told The Courier, it was almost unheard of for a fire to start in September.

He said while this week’s fire was only small, there was always the potential for a sudden wind change at this time of year to take the fire in another direction.

“The locals are very diligent and the CFA were all over it and it got put out quickly,” he said.

READ MORE: Adhere to fire conditions

The CFA recommends that before a burn, you notify neighbours at least two hours before starting it, notify emergency services, establish a fire break of no less than three metres which is cleared of all flammable material and check for fuel moisture conditions. 

You also must register your burn off with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511 and include things such as location, estimated size and what you intend to burn.

People with asthma or other conditions that make them susceptible to the effects of smoke are advised to consider staying indoors, reducing their exercise, taking their medications and following their asthma plan.

You can also check when and where planned burns are occurring via the VicEmergency App or by logging on to ffm.vic.gov.au/

There might be some respite this weekend for fire fighters with a cold and wet top of just nine degrees forecast for today in Ballarat and 11 for tomorrow. The week ahead looks cool with temperature hovering below 16.