'It can change quickly': it may still look green but the fire season is imminent

Following other fire districts across the state, the FDP began at 1.00am on December 13 for the City of Ballarat, Hepburn, Golden Plains, Moorabool and Pyrenees shires.

It means fire restrictions are in place preventing fires being lit in the open air without a permit.

It comes after the seasonal outlook for December to February, released by the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services, indicated the potential for an average to lower-than average bushfire season in Victoria.

However, fast-moving grass and crop fires remain a high risk following average to above average rainfall during the last few months, resulting in strong fuel growth.

It has prompted the Country Fire Authority to warn against complacency given that it only takes "one bad day" to spark a bad fire.

Read more: 'Now's not the time to be complacent', CFA warns as fire danger period announced

Read more: 'Now is the time': grassfire risk prompts fire prep reminder

While much of the growth around Ballarat is still green, District 15 commander, Gavin Hope, said the landscape was beginning to dry out around Bacchus Marsh and Myrniong as well as to the north west.

"The grass growth is quite significant out there, in terms of height and depth," he said. "It is curing right on our boundary but it hasn't quite hit us yet.

"People might have been lulled into a false sense of security with the rains but it can change quickly. Hot days, like this week, will dry things out."

He said the risk of grass fire was elevated on hot and windy days so maintaining short grass and continuing to prune back vegetation was important to mitigate the risk.

"People need to be prepared for the grass to start drying out around Ballarat over Christmas," Commander Hope said.

While maintaining properties, he warned for vigilance while slashing and mowing lawns as a fire can be sparked if machinery hits a rock or other object hidden in the grass.

He also encouraged people to be prepared for high fire risk days by reading the forecast and enabling notifications from the Vic Emergency app.

"We want everyone to enjoy Christmas but to stay safe.

"People should be conscious of the weather forecast and should look out for hot and windy days a week ahead."

Local governments have begun slashing roadsides and the introduction of the fire danger period means all burn offs to clean up private properties should have been completed, with permits now required to burn off.

"Any fires that had been going must now be extinguished. People should check nothing is still burning underground and that there is no residual heat on the ground or any stumps still burning," Commander Hope said.

However, if continuing to clean up your property mulching is still an option.

For those planning on taking a camping trip, lighting a small campfire is permitted for cooking and warmth as long as it is not a total fire ban day.

Commander Hope asked people to ensure the fire was fully extinguished before leaving the site and said the same applied to backyard fire pits.

He added the total fire ban in the Wimmera on Monday and the warm weather was also a timely reminder to ensure a Bushfire Safety Plan is in place.

The plan should include information such as which Fire Danger Rating will be the trigger to leave, where you will go and on which route. It should also contain different scenarios and back-up plans.

For more information visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au

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