As the wildfire advanced into an area previously treated with a planned burn, the contrast in fire behaviour was stark and immediate.
Three key changes occurred as the fire entered the planned burn zone:
- flame height dropped significantly
- fire intensity decreased
- the rate of spread slowed.
These changes allowed crews to gain control of the fire along that section of the track. In contrast, areas outside the planned burn footprint, where fuel loads remained high suffered severe damage.
Trees in those zones were scorched, while within the cooler-burned area, vegetation and trees showed signs of resilience and recovery. Epicormic growth was already visible, and ground vegetation had begun to regenerate.
This incident also underscored the broader environmental infrastructure. Over two-thirds of Melbourne’s water comes from forested catchments, which play a vital role in natural water filtration. Protecting these forests from intense bushfires is essential to maintaining water quality.
Planned burning remains a cornerstone of Victoria’s bushfire risk reduction strategy, not only for protecting life and property but also for safeguarding critical natural resources like our water supply.
For more information, visit Planned burning in Victoria.
Page last updated: 28/10/25