Risk of bushfires after all the rain

It has been raining and flooding in Victoria for months but residents are already being told to get ready for bushfire season.

Communities along the River Murray expect to deal with f lood waters for weeks to come, but fire bosses say they’re also some of the areas most at risk of bushfires.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the rain would bring growth, which residents would need to control.

‘‘It will get warm again,’’ Mr Lapsley said yesterday.

‘‘I think one of the key things this year is to do the practical work, cut the grass, but be prepared to do it again.’’

The wet spring has also hampered planned burns, which will now have to be squeezed in once the rain stops ahead of the aboveaverage risk fire season.

A planned burn in Lancefield got out of control last year and Mr Lapsley said while that was always a risk, the fire services had learned a lot since last summer.

‘‘The agencies have changed the way business is done (for planned burns),’’ he said.

Mr Lapsley said Central and Western Victoria were the districts most at risk of bushfires this summer.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said fire readiness week was a chance for Victorians to get their properties and fire plans ready.

‘‘Remember to look out for one another,’’ Mr Merlino said.

‘‘I know it’s been raining, I know it’s wet, but that means growth.’’