Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority
Residents across south-east Victoria may have noticed smoke hanging low over the hills last weekend (14-15 March) followig a coordinated series of planned burns carried out to reduce fuel loads and strengthen community safety ahead of the next fire season.
Across three locations – Nerrena, Traralgon West and Clifton Creek – firefighters, land managers and volunteer crews worked side by side to complete burns that will support resilience across local communities and landscapes.
Small burn, big benefit at Nerrena
Saturday morning began at Nerrena, where crews completed a 3.5‑hectare low‑land forest burn. Although modest in scale, the site plays an important role in shaping fire behaviour within the broader mosaic of surrounding farmland and forested gullies. Good conditions and steady teamwork helped crews complete the burn safely and efficiently.
Sunday operations at Traralgon West
Crews shifted their focus to Scrubby Lane in Traralgon West for a roadside planned burn conducted under clear, cool autumn conditions. This site carried an added layer of complexity. The burn zone was next to a large pine plantation, so precise ignition work and constant monitoring was needed to ensure the fire remained within containment lines. Despite the additional challenges, teams executed the operation smoothly, helping to make a key access corridor safer for the season ahead.
Major fuel reduction at Clifton Creek
The weekend’s largest operation took place at Clifton Creek, where firefighters and land managers completed a 49‑hectare planned joint agency bushland burn. The burn forms part of an ongoing effort to reduce fuel hazards in an area that has experienced significant fire activity in recent years. By mid‑afternoon, the main burn area was safely contained, with crews patrolling and blacking out hotspots as the light faded across the ridgelines.
A collective effort across agencies and volunteers
None of the weekend’s achievements would have been possible without a wide network of people and organisations working together. Volunteer CFA members from across South East Region played a central role, providing valuable local knowledge, on‑the-ground skills and many hours of service. They were supported by 28 members from the CFA Planned Burn Taskforce, who brought additional capability in ignition, sector operations and burn control.
The burns were further strengthened by the involvement of key partner agencies, including:
- HVP Plantations
- Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- Parks Victoria
- GLaWAC (Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation)
This collaborative approach ensured burns were conducted safely, responsibly and with a shared focus on long‑term landscape health.
Looking ahead
As the final plumes of smoke lifted on Sunday evening, crews wrapped up another successful chapter in the region’s autumn burning program. The weekend’s operations highlighted what can be achieved when agencies, volunteers, landholders, and Traditional Owner organisations work together toward a common goal: safer communities and healthier landscapes.
| Submitted by | Mitchell Emmett |
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