Fire Danger Ratings – an explanation

Victoria has adopted the new nationally agreed Fire Danger Rating scale to help communities understand information about fire danger. This new scale recognises the significant increase in severe bushfire conditions over the past decade and the subsequent greater level of danger to the community, as experienced on Saturday 7 February 2009.

Fire Danger

Every day during the fire season the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecasts an outlook of the fire danger index (FDI) by considering elements of the predicted weather including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and dryness of vegetation. When determining the Fire Danger Rating, fire agencies, in consultation with the BoM, consider a range of other factors relating to that area and day.

These factors include:

• the length of time the fire danger index has been elevated
  

• extent of fire already in the landscape
  

• fuel and dryness
  

• likelihood of weather events such as lightning and grass fuel conditions.

Fire Danger Rating (FDR)

A Fire Danger Rating is a prediction of fire behaviour, including how hard it would be to put out a fire once it starts. It provides information on:

• The sort of bushfire behaviour that could be experienced on that day
  

• The type of threat bushfires may pose to life and property on any day given the forecast weather conditions A new Fire Danger Rating Barometer will alert you to danger so you can take action.

Fire Danger Ratings will be a feature of weather forecasts and alert you to the actions you should take in preparation for and on the day. It will be in newspapers, broadcast on radio, TV and on websites.

RATING

Recommended Action

CODE RED (Catastrophic):

If you live in a bushfire prone area the safest option is to leave the night before, or early in the morning.

EXTREME:

The safest option is to leave early in the day if you live in a bushfire prone area and your Bushfire Survival Plan is to leave. Only stay if your home is well prepared, well constructed and you can actively defend it.

SEVERE:

The safest option is to leave early in the day if you live in a bushfire prone area and your Bushfire Survival Plan is to leave. Only stay if your home is well prepared and you can actively defend it.

VERY HIGH:

If you live in a bushfire prone area and your Bushfire Survival Plan is to leave, the safest option is to leave at the beginning of a day.

HIGH:

Check your Bushfire Survival Plan

LOW–MODERATE:

Check your Bushfire Survival Plan