The Hume region's firefighters and emergency personnel representatives have gathered in Benalla for an annual briefing ahead of the upcoming fire season.
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Forest Fire Management Victoria Ovens District Manager Jarrod Hayse said the number of seasonal firefighters had been boosted this year.
"We have 132 project firefighters for the summer, in addition to our permanent staff, and eight of those are additional to this year," he said.
"We have 14 rappel firefighters who rapel out of aircraft and helicopters to rapidly respond to bushfires in remote areas.
"Last season we had about 14 aircraft in the Hume region, and I imagine this year it will be fairly similar and they will come on board soon.
"We'll have our fire detection up and running again with fire towers and aircraft, and nine incident control centres across CFA and FFMV.
Mr Hayse said FFMV continued to push the message to properly manage campfires as people ventured into state forests in the warmer weather.
"Were encouraging people that if you're having a campfire, that an adult is always in attendance, and to make sure the fire is extinguished with water," he said.
"If it's cool to touch, it's safe to leave.
"Last season and in the last couple of years, we've seen an increase in unattended campfires and fires starting from those unattended campfires."
CFA district 24 operations manager Paul King said all indicators pointed towards an above-average fire danger for this season and that arson remained an area of concern.
"We had some difficulties in the Upper Murray and police worked very hard to locate those people," he said.
"They will be met with the full force of the law, as will people being reckless with fire.
"We plan to be ready for difficult fire seasons every year."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp attended the briefing on Tuesday and urged Victorians to plan for the season.
"As an individual, as a family, and as a community what are you doing to prepare?" he asked.
"It's important to have a trigger about when you're going to put that plan into place.
"Think about your preparation.
"We had nearly 7000 fires last summer, and fires are part of living in Victoria."
