General News
20 November, 2025
Planned burn warning as restrictions loom
WITH the Fire Danger Period in full effect across the Wimmera, a small fire that broke out near Harrow served as a reminder for caution in preparation.
Several units were called out when a planned burn a few kilometres northwest of the town escaped from a private property on November 1, despite calm wind conditions.
CFA District 17 Commander, Scott Connor, said the response was swift and brought the fire under control quickly, but not before it “ended up burning a small portion of State Forest”.
“We had CFA respond, we had Forest Fire Management respond, and aircraft also assisted with suppression,” he said.
He said it was vital for people to be careful, as the outcome showed just how easy it was for a fire to escalate, and advised residents “to use caution when burning off and ensure you have sufficient equipment on hand to suppress any fire as needed”.
Despite recent Spring rain, Mr Connor said some areas were still very dry.
“The issue with this year is the dryness of our forests,” he said.
“Even with the rain that we've had, we haven't got that underlying soil moisture that we normally have in the forest, so the forests are still very, very dry.
“You might look at the roadside and see puddles and lush green grass, but once you get out into the forested area, there’s a very high chance of a fire getting out of control rather quickly.”
For more information on preparing your property and understanding local fire restrictions, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Those making burn-offs must notify authorities online at the Fire Permits Victoria website (www.firepermits.vic.gov.au) or by calling 1800 668 511.
By registering your burn-off online, you enable emergency call takers to allocate more of their time to responding to calls from individuals who require immediate emergency assistance.
No burning off is permitted during the FDP without a Permit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website.