Fire

Victoria is one of the most fire-prone areas in the world. We have a shared responsibility to adequately plan and prepare for the possibility of bushfires.

 

Prepare your property

Reduce the fuel load on your property by: 

  • Mowing or slashing grass and weeds to less than 10cm in height. 

  • Raking up leaves and bark in the immediate area around buildings. 

  • Pruning low branches from around buildings and fences. 

  • Keeping gutters clear of leaf litter.

  • Removing rubbish and garden waste. 

  • Storing flammable liquids and woodpiles away from the house. 

The CFA website has more information on how to maintain your property. You can also assess your fire risk with the following CFA interactive tool. 

Need assistance? Here is a list of local contractors(PDF, 318KB) who may be able to help. 

You may be able to burn off in some areas but be sure to check permit requirements first. 

The Country Fire Authority also has helpful information about how you can prepare your property before fire season via cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare. 

Make a plan

Start your fire plan now. It only takes 10 minutes, and you can complete it online via fireplanner.vic.gov.au. 

Things to consider before making your plan include:

  • Who will you protect?
  • Where will you go?
  • When will you leave?
  • What will you take?

If your home or community is under threat from a bushfire emergency, make sure you are getting the information you need from multiple sources. Never rely on just one!  

Places of last resort

Please be aware that Bushfire Places of Last Resort (also known as Neighbourhood Safer Places):

  • Should only be used if your Bushfire Survival Plan fails and you have nowhere else to go.
  • Are NOT Relief Centres - there are limited facilities and no support services are provided.
  • Are NOT places to relocate to when leaving early.
  • May not provide shelter from smoke and embers.

  • SURVIVAL IS NOT GUARANTEED.

Council Bushfire Places of Last Resort 

Halls Gap: Halls Gap Picnic Reserve, Grampians Road, Halls Gap 3381.

St Arnaud: Lord Nelson Park (northwest half of oval (sporting club end)), 10 Dunstan Street (off Charlton Road), St Arnaud 3478.

Stawell: Cato Park (grassed area between Victoria Street and lake), Victoria Street, (opposite Haitts Lane), Stawell 3380.

Other resources

The above locations can be viewed on the council's Community Map.

View the council's Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan(PDF, 588KB).

For more information on Bushfire Places of Last Resort, please visit the CFA website.

Warnings and restrictions

  • The Fire Danger Period is when CFA restricts the use of fire in the community to help prevent fires from starting. The dates for the Fire Danger Period are set each year by the CFA.

  • Fire Danger Ratings tell you how dangerous a fire could be if one started. They help you decide what actions to take to protect yourself and others from bushfires and grassfires. 

  • Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days of heightened fire danger to reduce the risk of a fire starting. 

Fire Danger Period

The current Fire Danger Period for Northern Grampians Shire is from November 10, 2025 to April 13, 2026.

Fire Danger Ratings

There are four levels of fire danger:

  • Moderate - Plan and prepare.
  • High - Be ready to act.
  • Extreme - Take action now to protect your life and property.
  • Catastrophic - For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.

Fire Danger Ratings will be issued on days when there is a fire risk.

Each fire danger rating will have a clear set of messages including the actions the community can take to reduce their risk.

Ratings are forecast using Bureau of Meteorology data for up to four days in advance, based on weather and other environmental conditions such as vegetation.

The rating is your trigger to take action to stay safe.

Total Fire Bans

Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA's Chief Officer on days of heightened fire danger to reduce the risk of a fire starting.

As well as the Fire Danger Rating, the Chief Officer also considers other factors such as current fires in the landscape, resource commitment and increased likelihood for human and lightning induced fires when declaring Total Fire Bans.

Therefore, CFA might declare a Total Fire Ban for areas that have not reached an 'Extreme' Fire Danger Rating.

Anyone who breaches a Total Fire Ban declaration is subject to heavy legal penalties including large fines and even imprisonment.

Find out what you can and can't do on days of Total Fire Ban - select Total Fire Ban on the page.

The Total Fire Ban logo will display on the relevant fire districts on the fire danger forecast maps when declared.

Other resources

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