RESIDENTS of Mansfield Shire risk hefty fines and potentially jail time for allowing a burn-off to escape during the Fire Danger Period (FDP).
CFA has urged Victorians to take extra precautions while burning-off ahead of the FDP to avoid penalties and unnecessary use of emergency services resources.
Last year, CFA responded to 819 callouts for escaped burn-offs between January and December, with 396 incidents (48 per cent) occurring between September and November.
The trend appears to be reoccuring in 2024, with CFA already having responded to 37 incidents between 1 and 20 September.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan says this number is far too high and emphasised the widespread impact escaped burn-offs have.
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"We are aiming for a significant reduction in escaped burn-off incidents this season as we head towards the FDP," Mr Heffernan said.
"Last year's numbers, especially during Spring, placed an unnecessary strain on CFA crews, neighbouring properties, and the community.
"Letting a burn-off escape during the FDP can result in severe penalties, including heavy fines and liability for damages caused."
Under the CFA Act, penalties for allowing a burn-off to escape during a declared FDP can include fines up to $23,710, 12 months imprisonment, or both. The penalty is doubled if an escape occurs on a Total Fire Ban Day.
District 22 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Rohan Taylor highlighted the impact of a recent incident in Violet Town.
"We were called to a grass and scrub fire in Violet Town just after 1pm. It quickly became clear that it was an escaped burn-off," Rohan said.
"We deployed five tankers to control the fire, which burned a relatively large area. It required a significant effort to contain, and while it occurred in cooler weather, the situation could have been far worse under warmer conditions."
Rohan stressed that this incident underscores the exact scenario CFA is trying to avoid.
The Violet Town incident was not registered online as a burn-off, which added additional challenges for responders.
"The most important steps are registering your burn-off, ensuring you have the tools to manage it, and monitoring it closely," Rohan added.
"We strongly encourage residents to clean up their properties before the bushfire season, but safety must always come first.
"With warmer and drier conditions predicted for this fire season, it's more critical than ever to handle burn-offs responsibly."
For more information or to register your burn-off, visit the CFA website.
