REGION - The Fire Danger Period in Northern Grampians Shire, Ararat Rural City and Pyrenees Shire council areas has come to an end.
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The Fire Danger Period finished at 1am this morning across most of the municipalities in the Grampians region.
CFA District 16 Operations Manager, Chris Eagle said despite the lifting of fire restrictions, it is no reason for people to become complacent.
"While the fire danger period has finished, there is still the possibility of fires causing damage," he said.
"It is important the community take extreme care when burning off.
"If a fire is left unattended in windy conditions it can spread quickly and can burn into bushland or onto neighbours properties.
"Anyone conducting burning off activities should notify authorities, ensure suitable mineral earth breaks around the perimeter of the area to be burnt, ensure there is water on site and patrol the fire until it is fully extinguished."
People should do the following before conducting any burn off:
Check local by-laws before burning off
Never leave a burnoff unattended
Tell your neighbours and call the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511 so that brigades don't get called out to burnoffs unnecessarily
Check the weather forecast before you burnoff - never burnoff in dry, hot, windy conditions
CFA Grampians Regional Commander, Phil Beasley said although the official Fire Danger Period has come to a close the recent grassfires demonstrated how quickly fires could take hold.
"Grassfires travel faster than you can run. They can threaten properties and even kill," he said.
"People should have a fire plan and prepare for the event of fire - never be complacent."
Fire Danger Periods are based on local conditions and take into account fuel moistures, fuel loads, grassland curing, weather and rainfall. They are a seasonal declaration.
Information about Fire Restrictions is available in CFA's Can I or Can't I brochure or by phoning 1800 240 667.