Fire Danger Rating
The Fire Danger Rating tells you how dangerous a fire would be if one started. It helps you to know when conditions are dangerous enough to put your bushfire survival plan into action.
Ratings are forecast using Bureau of Meteorology data for up to four days in advance, based on weather and other environmental conditions such as fuel load.
The rating is your prompt to take action to stay safe. Check the Fire Danger Rating online.
A day of Total Fire Ban is declared when fires are likely to spread very quickly and be difficult to control.
It means you must not light a fire in that district for that day.
Fire Danger Rating categories
There are 4 categories, ranging from 'Moderate' to ‘Catastrophic’.
A 'Catastrophic' Fire Danger Rating is the worst condition for bushfire.
The Chief Officer of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) declares Total Fire Bans for Victorian areas at risk.
This reduces the chances of a fire starting on these days.
Emergency Management Team
Knox City Council's Emergency Management Team plans and prepares for declared Fire Danger Ratings above 'Very High'.
Council services provide information to the community on:
- any early-year service closures
- any Council services affected by the heat
- information about heatwaves
- looking after your pets in the heat.
Burning Off
Burning off in the open air is banned unless you have a valid written Permit to Burn.
VicEmergency Hotline
The VicEmergency Hotline has the latest fire information from Fire Controllers in the field.
They also advise on what to do during a bushfire.
Call 1800 226 226 for the hotline.
It provides information about:
- Total Fire Bans
- Fire Restrictions
- Parks/DELWP prescribed burns
- preparing for bushfire.
You can use this information to plan for activating your bushfire plans. These must be prepared before high-risk days.
The Hotline has the latest fire information from Fire Controllers in the field. They also advise on what to do during a bushfire.
Find information on current warnings.
Preparing for bushfires
Remember bushfire and grassfires don’t only impact those living in rural areas. Fires can occur where the suburbs meet the bush or in urban areas where houses have grass, bushland or parkland around them.
High-risk bushfire locations have Community Information Guides.
These Guides have important information for:
- before a bushfire
- during a bushfire
- after a bushfire
The CFA recommends that everybody has a written Bushfire Survival Plan.
For help writing your plan, you can:
- go to a community meeting in your area
- use the FireReady Kit
- use the Plan and Prepare resources on the CFA website.
Community Information Guides are available for:
Fire in your home
All of us, no matter where we live, are at risk of a fire in our home. Most fires in the home are preventable by taking simple actions to reduce the risk. Everybody should have working smoke alarms, prepare an escape plan and check their house for possible causes of fire risk.
Knox Municipal Fire Management Plan
The Knox Municipal Fire Management Plan outlines the shared responsibilities of government, fire agencies and communities.
It covers public and private land and takes a shared approach between the responsible agencies.
See the Knox Municipal Fire Management Plan
Need help?
Contact us and we will get back to you.
We aim to contact you regarding reports of fire hazards within 3 business days of notification during the fire danger period.
Or call our Emergency Management team on 9298 8000.
