By Alesha Capone
Forest Fire Management Victoria crews are preparing for a planned burn at a Truganina nature conservation reserve within the next 10 days.
The reserve, which is about one kilometre in size, is located near a cemetery on Woods Road, close to the intersection of Dohertys Road.
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) metro district manager Kylie Hyland said that smoke might be visible in the surrounding area and from nearby roads while the burn was in progress.
“We have a very small window of opportunity to burn in these grasslands – it’s only possible when it’s not too hot or dry, and before the grass gets too green after recent rain,” Ms Hyland said.
She said that native plants and animals living at the Truganina reserve “effectively” needed fire to survive.
FFMVic will also conduct burns in Magazine Avenue and Edgewater Circuit, Cairnlea within the next 10 days.
Ms Hyland said the burns will benefit a range of species, including the spiny rice flower and striped legless lizard, by reducing weed growth and coverage.
If you see smoke and want to know if it is a planned burn or a fire, visit emergency.vic.gov.au, check the VicEmergency App or call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
To find out when planned burns are happening near you go to www.ffm.vic.gov.au/
You can also access the Planned Burn Notification System (PBNS) at www.pbns.vic.gov.au , which is an opt-in system that can send you an SMS or email message prior to a burn being carried out and when it is in progress.
