General News
6 March, 2026
Increased bushfire risk across the state
The Australian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council (AFAC) have declared another season of increased bushfire risk for central Victoria, due to prolonged lack of rainfall.
The organisation has announced the state is now experiencing a multi-year severe rainfall deficit across all of Victoria, except East Gippsland. A vast majority of the state therefore has an increased risk of fire, including central Victoria.
These conditions have contributed to the significant fires experienced across the breadth of the state over summer, with the AFAC declaring autumn will also have a higher chance of maximum temperature, combined with a drier than normal rainfall outlook.
An extended drying pattern will continue post-summer, causing an increase in fuel availability across most of the state.
CFA Goldfields Group Officer Peter Higgins said recent rainfall has been a relief but minimising fire risk is still fundamental.
“Don’t drop your guard, be very careful. Just because we have had welcomed rain, the ground surface is so dry, it will certainly suck the moisture up,” he said.
“Maintain your fire prevention and continue to keep your place clean, if you continue to do it, it’s less work you have to do coming into next summer.”
Without significant rainfall, the flammability of fuels in forests, woodlands and heathlands will remain high with elevated potential for fires to start and spread into autumn.
The AFAC said central Victoria has experienced reduced fuel loads, however, there are patches of the goldfields regions Mr Higgins said are still at risk.
“Our forests are still a bit of a risk and areas that haven’t been burnt off will stay dry,” he said.
The remaining extreme level of forest flammability across Victoria will mean a delayed start to planned burning is likely in most parts of the state. That includes central Victoria.
“It has been good rainfall but they’re now starting to issue agricultural burning permits with permission given from districts to do agricultural burns, but they won’t be lifting restrictions at the moment,” Mr Higgins said.
“Even though we have had a really wet couple of days, restrictions will still be in place for the next couple of weeks.
“What the rain has done is made a lot of fire under control or contained which is good. Everyone has been smashed this year, as we are aware, but the brigades have done a really good job. They have done more than enough work.”
Mr Higgins said moving into the colder seasons does not coincide with the removal of fire restrictions, and locals must maintain the same compliance.
“We need to be very wary, and very keen, we are still using the line ‘if you light it you own it’ while we are in fire restrictions,” he said.
“Just because you’ve seen a lot of rain, just be aware, we are still in the fire danger period, and there is no clear date of when restrictions will be lifted.
“They will issue agricultural burn offs, but they have to follow fairly stringent rules. There are regulations they need to follow ... and if you see anything suspicious, please call it in.”