Smoke may be visible in Melbourne’s outer east today, with planned burns in Olinda and Gembrook set to be ignited.
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) crews are planning to ignite burns at Gilwell Park Bushland Reserve in Gembrook and four kilometres north-east of Olinda.
The 30-hectare Olinda burn will see the closure of Silvan Road, Olinda and numerous walking and mountain bike tracks in the region on 2 November and 3 November – until the area is deemed safe.
Visitors can still access the Silvan Reservoir Park but will need to do so from Stonyford Road via Monbulk Road.
Deputy chief fire officer Shannon Devenish said the planned burn would be ignited depending on weather conditions.
“If conditions are suitable and it’s safe to do so, we will carry out a planned burn to reduce fuel in the area south-west of Silvan Water Treatment Plant and Silvan Reservoir Visitor Area,” she said.
Smoke may be visible in Monbulk, Silvan and surrounding suburbs on Monday while the burn is underway.
Also weather permitting, the Gembrook burn will be ignited on Monday with crews patrolling the burn for several days following.
Gilwell Park Bushland Reserve will be closed during the burn and speed reductions will be in place on Gembrook-Launching Place Road with delays possible.
Ms Devenish said planned burning was one of the many strategies used by FFMVic as part of an integrated approach to protecting life and property from the risk of bushfire.
“Without planned burning and other fuel management work like strategic clearing, mowing and slashing, bushfires would be bigger and harder for our firefighters to control, so we’re taking every opportunity to burn while conditions allow and it’s safe to do so,” she said.
“The periods of cooler weather in spring and autumn are often the most suitable and safest for us to carry out our planned burning – they can only go ahead when the weather and conditions allow.
“The spring program is generally smaller than in autumn as the weather can be more variable and we focus on smaller, strategic community protection burns in spring.
“Our experienced crews will use a range of equipment to complete the burns including hand-held drip torches for ignition and specialist firefighting vehicles.”
FFMVic works with the CFA and the Bureau of Meteorology to ensure conditions are suitable for burning.
Under the current public health advice, FFMVic’s planned burning program can continue for now. If that advice changes, adjustments in consultation with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, CFA (Country Fire Authority) and Vic Emergency.
To find out when and where planned burns are happening, visit www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns or call 1800 226 226.
