The northern end of the Yarriambiack Shire has entered its Fire Danger Period as of Monday, lasting until May 1, 2021.
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It comes as the Country Fire Authority's district 17 acting assistant chief fire officer says grass fires will likely dominate the types of callouts Wimmera brigades receive this summer.
Hopetoun, Beulah, Lascelles, Speed and Tempy residents can no longer light a fire in the open air unless they have a permit or comply with certain requirements.
Eddie Lacko said the CFA was carefully looking at when West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Horsham Rural City and the rest of Yarriambiack Shire would join District 18 in the fire danger period.
"We are not far off it being declared. We will monitor that over the next few weeks, but right now with some more rain coming this week it's unlikely," he said.
"Over the past six months Victoria has recorded close to average rainfall. In general, the west is looking pretty good.
"We also know it is pushing fuel loads higher - the crops are looking very healthy indeed - and we know the influence of La Nina will increase as we get towards Christmas."
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Mr Lacko said this left the potential for short-duration grass fires on hot and windy days to be the most common incident in the Wimmera.
"That northern Yarriambiack area is a cropping and grazing area, so we could have some crop and grain harvested later, and maybe there is the potential for grass fires," he said.
Victoria's Fire Action Week kicked off on Monday, with a warning from the CFA for residents not to be complacent about fire risk.
Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook said in a state that any bushfire season in Victoria has the potential to be a bad one.
"Fire Action Week is a great reminder to Victorians to get a better understanding of their fire risk and what to do about it," Mr Cook said.
"Preparing your property means you minimise the chance of property damage during a fire, even if you plan to leave early.
"Keep trees, overhanging branches and shrubs to a minimum near your home, and keep grass shorter than 10cm.
"Move your winter wood pile away from the house and clear debris from gutters. A big clean-up before the fire season can make a huge difference to the safety and survival of your home in a bushfire.
"You also need to plan and prepare for your personal safety by understanding your risk and having a fire plan.
"Plan for all situations by talking to your family and friends about your triggers to leave, where you'll go and how you'll get there.
"Get into the habit of checking Fire Danger Ratings on the VicEmergency website or app daily to understand the fire risk in your area."
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