Bushfires in Victoria

A number of agencies are responsible for bushfire suppression in Victoria - the Country Fire Authority (CFA) which is a statewide volunteer-based organisation, the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) who are responsible for public land, covering one third of the state and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), which covers the metropolitan area of Melbourne.[5]

Parks Victoria is a government agency which also assiduously maintains the majority of Victoria's wetlands, national parks, marine parks and parklands. Parks Victoria takes part regularly in planned burning and fuel reduction burns which aim to reduce the potential impact of bushfires. Around 70% of Parks Victoria's staff are trained in specific fire fighting roles. Many of those staff are deployed each summer in Victoria to assist in fighting fires. Parks Victoria openly states that it supports the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).[6]

Once fires have started, the Country Fire Authority give graded warnings through various means to areas of settlements that may be affected by the fire. These warnings are distributed as messages detailing the status of the fire, its potential movements and give advice to residents in areas that may be affected. They are as follows:[7]

• Advice – general information to keep you up-to-date with developments.
• Watch and Act – an emergency threatens you. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect your health, life and your family.
• Emergency Warning – You are in imminent danger and need to take action immediately. You will be impacted by the emergency.
• All Clear - Emergency activity in the area has subsided and is no longer a danger to you.

Emergency Alert telephone warnings may be sent in extreme circumstances.[7] Landlines in the emergency area receive voice messages and mobile phones (with a billing address in the emergency area) receive text messages. Emergency broadcasts are made on local ABC and commercial radio stations and Sky News television. Information can also be sought by telephone from the Victorian Bushfire Information Line. During an emergency, the Standard Emergency Warning Signal is played via television, radio and public address systems.[7]

Current bushfire incidents and warnings are listed on the VicEmergency website launched in December 2013,[8] Information is also available through the CFA's Twitter and Facebook sites as well as the FireReady app.[7]

A 90-second siren at a CFA fire station indicates that CFA members are attending an emergency incident. A prolonged, 5-minute siren is targeted at the local community, indicating that there is an emergency in the area and further information should be sought.[7]

Planned burning is carried out by the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning at certain times of year to reduce fuel levels in parks and reserves throughout the state.[9]

Bushfire Management Overlays are areas identified in planning schemes within each of the Local Government Areas of Victoria that are deemed to have high fire risk. These areas are subject to particular planning and building controls.[10]

Following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, interim measures were introduced by the State Government to permit vegetation removal in bushfire prone areas. The exemptions include removal of vegetation (including trees) within 10 metres of existing residences as well as all vegetation (excluding trees) within 30 metres. The measures expire on 1 March 2012.[11]

The Victorian Government has adopted the residential building Australian Standard 3959-2009 to cover the location, design, construction of new dwellings in bushfire prone areas. The new standard includes consideration of Bushfire Attack Levels which are based on a number of factors including slope, proximity of vegetation and Fire Danger Index.[12] New interim regulations have also been introduced for the construction of private bushfire shelters or bunkers.[13]

The CFA, in consultation with councils and stakeholder groups, have developed Community Information Guides for locations in Victoria that are deemed to be in high risk areas. These are mailed to residents and are available on the CFA website. The guides provide emergency contact details, a map and information on preparations, planned emergency service actions and bushfire survival options. Some of these guides include designated Neighbourhood Safer Places which are sanctuaries of "last resort" during a bushfire emergency.[14]

Signage indicating to motorists that smoke from controlled burns may be in the area

• Lightning - 26%
• Deliberate - 25%
• Agricultural - 16%
• Campfire - 10%
• Cigarettes/Matches - 7%
• Unknown Causes - 6%
• Misc - 5%
• Machinery/Exhausts - 3%
• Planned burn escapes - 2%
• Public Utilities - 1%

• Lightning - 46%
• Public Utilities - 14%
• Deliberate - 14%
• Misc - 9%
• Agricultural - 7%
• Planned burn escapes - 5%
• Unknown Causes - 3%
• Machinery/Exhaust - 2%
• Campfire - 1%
• Cigarettes/Matches - less than 1%

• 1851 - 6 February "Black Thursday" (5 million hectares)
• 1938-39 - December - January "Black Friday" (2 million hectares)
• 2020 - 3 January "Victoria/NSW Mega Blaze" (1.5+ million hectares)
• 2003 - January - March "2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires" (1.3 million hectares)
• 2006-07 - 1 December - 6 February "Eastern Victoria Great Divide bushfires" (1.2 -1.3 million hectares)
• 1944 - January - February (1 million hectares)
• 1983 - 16 February "Ash Wednesday" (510,000 hectares)
• 2009 - 7 February "Black Saturday" (450,000 hectares)
• 1965 - Gippsland (300,000 hectares)
• 1898 - 1 February "Red Tuesday" (260,000 hectares)

• 2009 - 7 February - March "Black Saturday" (173 deaths)
• 1939 - December - January "Black Friday" (71 deaths)
• 1926 - 14 February - March "Black Sunday" (60 deaths)
• 1944 - December - February (51 deaths)
• 1983 - 16 February "Ash Wednesday" (47 in Victoria)
• 1962 - 14–16 January (33 deaths)
• 1969 - 8 January (23 deaths)
• 1942 - Western Victoria (20 deaths)
• 1905 - 1 December (12 deaths)
• 1898 - 1 February "Red Tuesday" (12 deaths)
• 1851 - 6 February "Black Thursday" (12 deaths)
• 1943 - 22 December (10 deaths)
• 1952 - January - March, Central Victoria (10 deaths)
• 1977 - 12 February, Western Victoria (8 deaths)
• 1965 - 17 January (7 deaths) Longwood, Northern Victoria
• 1998 - 2 December (5 deaths) Linton, Western Victoria
• 1985 - 14 January (3 deaths) Avoca, Central Victoria
• 1997 - 21 January (3 deaths) Dandenong Ranges