Displays when Total Fire Ban in force
If you see a lot of smoke in the Mt Macedon area today (11th Nov. 2014), it is because DEPI have a major planned burn scheduled for the next 24 hours.
A planned burn involves many different actions and decisions, and depends on weather.
On the day of the burn, the burn officer checks the weather, wind, fuel moisture and other conditions. If everything is suitable authorisation is requested and the public is then notified.
If traffic control is necessary, signs are put in place on local roads and tracks.
Weather, fuel and other factors that DEPI considers when choosing the most suitable time to light a planned burn are described below.
The burn is then lit according to a special lighting plan or pattern to achieve the planned coverage. Lighting may take three to four hours for a small burn or two or more days for a very large burn.
After the burn, trained firefighters patrol and monitor the area for several days, putting out or removing smouldering material, and the burn is eventually declared safe.
