SMOKE filled the air around Grantville on Monday, May 12 and could be detected over a wide area, around Western Port as far as Cowes and also towards Wonthaggi.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Gippsland region) had initiated a planned burn in the vicinity of the Adams Estate, on Stanley Road (15 hectares) at Grantville judging the weather to be ideal for the burn with clear skies and low winds.

The low winds contributed to the smoke hanging around for the day and into the night.

DEECA had advised that “without planned burning and other bushfire risk management works, bushfires will be bigger and harder for our firefighters to control”.

That was certainly the case in December 20224 when a bushfire travelled from The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve (NCR) towards Gurdies St Helier Road and Stewart Road at The Gurdies, burning out of control on a south-westerly wind change, impacting houses in the Woodland Close area and properties along Gurdies St Helier Road.

By Tuesday morning, the smoke had dissipated leaving the sky a bit hazy but without any sign on smoke in the air.

DEECA has a program of fuel-reduction burns and will post messages advising local property owners on the VicEmergency Facebook page, while also linking with other government and local government authorities.

DEECA has advised that you may see or smell smoke.

They’ve asked that you watch for our crews and follow their directions. During the burn program, access was limited to Stanley Road.

If you experience symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure, seek medical advice or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.

Detailed information about current air quality throughout Victoria can be found at www.epa.vic.gov.au

To find out when and where planned burns are happening near visit www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns